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Thursday, June 27, 2024 4:05 PM
Unlikely to play for OKC in 2024-25
The Scoop: Even a fully healthy Topic would have faced an uphill battle to earn meaningful minutes as a 19-year-old rookie on a deep Thunder roster, so Oklahoma City is content to view the 2024-25 season as a redshirt year for the No. 12 pick in the draft, who suffered a partial ACL tear in his left knee in late April. Per Joel Lorenzi of The Oklahoman, Topic said that he doesn't have a full grasp on a recovery timeline for his injury, which will likely depend on the type of surgery he undergoes on the compromised ACL. He'll first meet with the Thunder training staff before a treatment plan as well as a recovery timeline are established. Listed at 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-11 wingspan, Topic is a big point guard who's a gifted passer but a shaky perimeter shooter, making his skill set somewhat reminiscent of Josh Giddey, whom the Thunder recently traded to the Bulls. Though he won't be a factor in the Thunder rotation during the upcoming campaign, Topic is expected to be around the team and conduct his rehab in Oklahoma City, much like 2022 No. 2 overall pick Chet Holmgren did in his first professional season while recovering from a foot injury.
| | ![Nikola Topic Nikola Topic](https://paspn.net/images/playerimg/1642260.jpg) |
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Thursday, June 27, 2024 3:55 PM
Declines player option
The Scoop: Caldwell-Pope was remarkably consistent for the Nuggets over the past two seasons, and he averaged 10.1 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 31.6 minutes per game over 76 regular-season appearances last year. He'll test the open market this summer, and he should draw interest from multiple teams.
| | ![Kentavious Caldwell-Pope Kentavious Caldwell-Pope](https://paspn.net/images/playerimg/203484.jpg) |
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Thursday, June 27, 2024 3:29 PM
Shipped to Toronto
The Scoop: Vezenkov made 42 appearances for the Kings in 2023-24, averaging 5.4 points and 2.3 rebounds in 12.2 minutes on 44.0/37.5/80.0 shooting splits. While Vezenkov has shown the ability to be a quality floor-spacer at the forward position, there is no guarantee he will receive a significant uptick in playing time in Toronto.
| | ![Sasha Vezenkov Sasha Vezenkov](https://paspn.net/images/playerimg/1628426.jpg) |
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Thursday, June 27, 2024 2:35 PM
Declines player option
The Scoop: Gordon's output has declined over the past few seasons, but he shot 37.8 percent from beyond the arc during the 2023-24 campaign during his first year with the Suns. Over 68 regular-season appearances with Phoenix, he averaged 11.0 points and 2.0 assists in 27.8 minutes per game. He's expected to draw interest from multiple contenders as a free agent, so he could carve out another decent role next year, especially if he maintains his three-point efficiency.
| | ![Eric Gordon Eric Gordon](https://paspn.net/images/playerimg/201569.jpg) |
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Thursday, June 27, 2024 2:12 PM
Dealt to Golden State
The Scoop: Waters saw his averages decrease over his first three years in the league, and he wasn't a consistent part of the Thunder's rotation last year, averaging 3.6 points and 1.1 rebounds in 7.4 minutes per game over 38 regular-season appearances. He had a more prominent role when he suited up for the G League's Oklahoma City Blue, averaging 21.6 points and 6.5 rebounds in 33.0 minutes per game over 10 regular-season outings. Waters has a $2.2 million team option for next season, and the Warriors plan to exercise it to use him as a depth option.
| | ![Lindy Waters III Lindy Waters III](https://paspn.net/images/playerimg/1630322.jpg) |
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Thursday, June 27, 2024 10:41 AM
Undergoes foot surgery
The Scoop: Porzingis dealt with a lower left leg injury during the playoffs, and offseason surgery was expected. He underwent a procedure to repair a torn retinaculum and dislocated posterior tibialis tendon and will likely be forced to miss the start of the regular season in the 2024-25 campaign.
| | ![Kristaps Porzingis Kristaps Porzingis](https://paspn.net/images/playerimg/204001.jpg) |
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Thursday, June 27, 2024 3:29 AM
Bulls vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas said Wednesday that LaVine (foot) has been "fully cleared" after undergoing surgery in February, Will Gottlieb of AllCHGO.com reports.
The Scoop: LaVine had surgery on his right foot in early February with a recovery timetable of 4-to-6 months. A little over four months removed from the procedure, LaVine has been fully cleared and should be a full-go for training camp. The 28-year-old appeared in just 25 games during 2023-24 due to a few injuries, including the right foot issue that lingered throughout the campaign before February's shut down. He averaged fewer than 20 points and four assists per for the first time since 2017 last year.
| | ![Zach LaVine Zach LaVine](https://paspn.net/images/playerimg/203897.jpg) |
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Wednesday, June 26, 2024 5:22 PM
Speaking on the Russillo Podcast, Celtics President Brad Stevens said Wednesday that Porzingis (leg) could miss the start of the 2024-25 season.
The Scoop: Stevens was pretty vague with his comments, to be fair, and an official timetable won't be known until Porzingis undergoes his procedure in the coming days. Stevens mentioned that Porzingis' potential absence opens the door for the Celtics to be creative at the start of the season with their rotations. For now, it sounds like the franchise is planning for this to be a lengthy recovery process.
| | ![Kristaps Porzingis Kristaps Porzingis](https://paspn.net/images/playerimg/204001.jpg) |
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Wednesday, June 26, 2024 4:28 PM
Contrary to a previous report, Vezenkov said he will honor his contract with the Kings and wants to stay in the NBA, Sean Cunningham of Fox 40 Sacramento reports.
The Scoop: Cunningham adds that the report which stated that Vezenkov will not return to the Kings is "off base". The Kings reportedly want to keep the sharpshooter, but there is a market for him and it's no secret that the forward would like a larger role in the rotation. In his first NBA campaign, Vezenkov posted averages of 5.4 points and 2.3 rebounds across 12.2 minutes in 42 appearances.
| | ![Sasha Vezenkov Sasha Vezenkov](https://paspn.net/images/playerimg/1628426.jpg) |
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Wednesday, June 26, 2024 3:39 PM
Antetokounmpo (calf) practiced Wednesday and will be used on a minute restriction during Greece's Acropolis Tournament game against the Bahamas on Thursday, Harris Stavrou of SPORT24 reports.
The Scoop: Antetokounmpo sat out Greece's opener of the exhibition tournament but will suit up Thursday and get some game action before the Olympic Qualifying Tournament, which begins July 2. The NBA superstar hasn't played since suffering a left soleus strain during a regular-season game against the Celtics on April 9.
| | ![Giannis Antetokounmpo Giannis Antetokounmpo](https://paspn.net/images/playerimg/203507.jpg) |
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