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Pelicans
Joe Dumars took over basketball operations in the spring and chose not to explore a Zion Williamson trade during his first summer on the job. That patience is being tested now.
The Pelicans are off to a league-worst 3-19 start, and Williamson is once again managing injuries. First it was a hamstring strain. Now it is an adductor issue.
Chris Dodson of ClutchPoints wrote that it is becoming harder to picture Williamson as part of the team’s long-term direction.
Dodson added that one league source believes the Pelicans would take the first “decent, reasonable offer” that comes along.
The issue is that Zion’s value has dipped, and the Pelicans have not engaged in any meaningful trade conversations. Dodson wrote that New Orleans has almost no leverage.
On ESPN’s NBA Today, Brian Windhorst said the two-time All-Star has “almost next to no value” right now. He also pointed out that the Pelicans are incentivized to push for wins since they do not control their own 2026 first-round pick.
Windhorst said the only path is to keep supporting Williamson and “exhaust all pathways” to get him back into a place where he can be dominant again.
Clippers
Joe Vardon of The Athletic reported that Clippers president of basketball operations Lawrence Frank and several members of his front office appear to be trending toward contract extensions.
Other team sources told Vardon that those talks are still “premature,” but everyone involved emphasized the same thing. Team owner Steve Ballmer values continuity. There is no real indication that a front office shakeup or coaching change is on the table despite the team’s rough start.
Vardon, Sam Amick and Law Murray also shared details on how things with Chris Paul unraveled so quickly. Their reporting painted a clear picture.
Paul’s “constant criticism” of the team was felt throughout the organization during the opening weeks of the season. League sources told The Athletic that players, coaches and staff members took exception to the “acerbic” and “disparaging” tone.
Paul has been known to mentor young players in the past, but the Clippers did not have many young pieces for him to guide.
Instead, his feedback reportedly came across as “grating” in a room filled with veterans and experienced coaches. That dynamic, combined with the team’s poor play, pushed both sides toward a separation.
Suns
Devin Booker will be reevaluated in one week after being diagnosed with a right groin strain. Shams Charania of ESPN reported that Booker was hurt Monday against the Lakers and will miss games against Houston on Friday and Minnesota on Monday.
The earliest return would be next Wednesday’s NBA Cup quarterfinal in Oklahoma City.
Charania called the diagnosis a “best case” scenario, with the injury not considered significant even if Booker needs more than seven days.
Booker has been the top scorer for a Suns team playing better than expected after moving on from Kevin Durant and buying out Bradley Beal.
He is averaging 25 points, nearly seven assists and more than four rebounds through 22 outings. Phoenix has opened the season at 13-9 with Booker leading the way.
The Suns will have to patch things together while he sits. Jalen Green remains out with a hamstring issue. Ryan Dunn returned Monday after missing five games with a wrist sprain. Grayson Allen missed Monday due to illness, though he had just worked his way back from a quad injury.
If healthy, Allen and Dunn should carry bigger loads, with Collin Gillespie, Jordan Goodwin and possibly Jamaree Bouyea in the mix. Bouyea logged a season-high 23 minutes on Monday.
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