Los Angeles Clippers forward Nicolas Batum (Achilles) has been ruled out for Thursday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies. The veteran forward will sit this one out due to Achilles soreness. This shouldn't come as a big surprise since Batum was listed as doubtful coming into the game. Terance Mann (ankle) will play and resume his role as the sixth man. Also, Amir Coffey could start in place of Batum, but Mann is the much better fantasy option between the two.

LA Clippers small/power forward Nicolas Batum (Achilles) has been deemed doubtful to play in Thursday's game against the Grizzlies due to a sore right Achilles tendon. Batum has become an integral member of the Clippers' starting five this season, with his likely absence creating myriad issues for the team's rotation. With Marcus Morris Sr. (knee) and Justise Winslow (personal) unavailable, Paul George could slot down into the four spot, thereby opening room in the starting five for Luke Kennard or Terance Mann (ankle). When healthy, Batum is a borderline season-long fantasy asset, particularly in category formats.

Los Angeles Clippers forward Nicolas Batum caught fire from beyond the arc in Tuesday's 117-109 win over the Trail Blazers. Batum knocked down 6 of 8 threes for a season-high 22 points in total- adding six boards, an assist, and a steal in 29 minutes. The 32-year-old is thriving in a stretch-the-floor forward role for Los Angeles, as he's averaging the most points and rebounds per game since the 2016-17 season while connecting on a career-high 2.9 threes per game. Batum figures to continue playing heavy minutes at both forward spots with the Clippers down Kawhi Leonard (knee) for most of the year. Batum has knocked down four-plus threes in four of his last five games, making him an appealing DFS option on Thursday night against the Heat.

Los Angeles Clippers forward Nicolas Batum (personal) was not listed on the league's official injury report on Friday night. His absence from the list appears to suggest that he will be available for Saturday's matchup against the visiting Memphis Grizzlies. Luke Kennard, who had seven points throughout 24 minutes during the Thursday night loss to the Warriors, will likely see fewer minutes with the veteran's expected return. Regardless, neither Kennard nor Batum is expected to contribute much on the fantasy end, so managers should look elsewhere to round out their lineup.

Los Angeles Clippers forward Nicolas Batum (personal) and forward Serge Ibaka (back) will miss Thursday's season-opener against the Warriors. Already down Kawhi Leonard (knee), the Clippers' frontcourt depth will be challenged early on in the season. Marcus Morris Sr., Ivica Zubac, and Isaiah Hartenstein should see all the minutes they can handle Thursday. Some usage could also trickle down to Terance Mann and Luke Kennard, both of whom have shown the ability to pick up the scoring slack in the absence of Leonard. Mann and Morris are likely the best DFS candidates of the bunch.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Clippers’ season began in an empty arena with cardboard cutouts, COVID-19 tests, and protocols for everything. It ended with the team reaching the Western Conference finals for the first time in franchise history, even without injured superstar Kawhi Leonard. A masked Leonard watched from the bench as the Clippers lost to the Phoenix Suns in six games on Wednesday night. “Man, we just had a group of guys that loved playing with each other. Everyone was on the same page,” center Ivica Zubac said Thursday. The Clippers overcame 0-2 deficits in the first two rounds to beat Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks and Donovan Mitchell and the Utah Jazz. Leonard sprained his right knee in Game 4 against the Jazz and didn't play again. Zubac also injured his knee and was forced to sit out the final two games against the Suns. The Clippers trailed that series 0-2 and 1-3 before closing to 3-2 and eventually running out of gas. Through the injuries, Paul George kept... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Hornets owner Michael Jordan and general manager Mitch Kupchak had no intentions of spending money on a big-name free agent this offseason. But things changed quickly when Gordon Hayward opted out of his contract with the Boston Celtics. The prospect of getting a playmaking wing — something Jordan has coveted for years — proved too intriguing to ignore, prompting the Hornets to veer slightly away from their well established plan of developing young players and pursue the 2017 All-Star. “I did not think that we would be in a position to pursue a free agent of Gordon's caliber,” Kupchak said Tuesday on a videoconference call. “... It looked like Gordon would be a free agent next year, which based on how we felt our team was positioned we might have chosen to pursue him next year. But he opted out. When he opted out and we quickly found out we were in the picture, we quickly started the recruiting process." Kupchak said Jordan was “very involved” in that process. The... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Charlotte Hornets have acquired forward Gordon Hayward and unprotected 2023 and 2024 second-round draft picks from the Boston Celtics in exchange for a heavily protected 2022 second-round draft pick as part of a sign-and-trade transaction. The Celtics will only get Charlotte’s draft pick if the Hornets finish in the top five in the league next season, so it’s unlikely they will get anything in the deal other than unloading Hayward’s contract. Hayward previously agreed to a four-year, $120 million deal to join the Hornets. “We are thrilled to welcome Gordon and his family to the Hornets organization and Charlotte,” Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak said. “Gordon is an NBA All-Star, a proven scorer and playmaker and a tough competitor that will fit well into the needs of our team. We believe that his basketball talent, NBA experience and veteran leadership will make a positive impact on our young, talented team as it continues to develop.” The Hornets also waived guard Nicolas Batum and forward Ray Spalding. Hayward, a 10-year NBA veteran, has appeared in 641 regular-season games with 479 starts with the Jazz and Celtics, averaging 15.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists in 30.8 minutes per game. The 6-foot-7 forward has appeared in 29 postseason games with 16 starts, averaging 15 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 33 minutes per game.

PARIS (AP) — Different continent, same challenge for the Charlotte Hornets: How to stop Giannis Antetokounmpo?When the Hornets played Milwaukee in December, the league's MVP scored 26 points in just 20 minutes in a blowout win for the Bucks. As they prepare for rematch in Paris on Friday, Charlotte's French forward Nicolas Batum said there is no obvious answer when it comes to preventing Antetokounmpo from dominating again.“It's been two years now that no one has the answer,“ Batum said ahead of the NBA's first regular-season game to be played in France. “He's becoming more reliable with his shooting and he'll become an unstoppable machine soon. For me he's the MVP so far this season.“Antetokounmpo is coming off his fourth triple-double of the season on Monday night against the Chicago Bulls. In that game he also reached a milestone of 10,000 points.According to Bucks coach Mike Budenholzer, though, the Greek star hasn't reached his full potential yet. “We feel like he's going to continue... [More]

Reaction from the basketball world and beyond to the death of former NBA Commissioner David Stern on Wednesday at age 77:“For 22 years, I had a courtside seat to watch David in action. He was a mentor and one of my dearest friends. We spent countless hours in the office, at arenas and on planes wherever the game would take us. Like every NBA legend, David had extraordinary talents, but with him it was always about the fundamentals — preparation, attention to detail, and hard work.” — Adam Silver, who followed Stern as commissioner.“Without David Stern, the NBA would not be what it is today. He guided the league through turbulent times and grew the league into an international phenomenon, creating opportunities that few could have imagined before. His vision and leadership provided me with the global stage that allowed me to succeed. David had a deep love for the game of basketball and demanded excellence from those around him — and I admired him for that.” — Michael Jordan.“David Stern... [More]

Reaction from the basketball world and beyond to the death of former NBA Commissioner David Stern on Wednesday at age 77:“For 22 years, I had a courtside seat to watch David in action. He was a mentor and one of my dearest friends. We spent countless hours in the office, at arenas and on planes wherever the game would take us. Like every NBA legend, David had extraordinary talents, but with him it was always about the fundamentals — preparation, attention to detail, and hard work.” — Adam Silver, who followed Stern as commissioner.“Without David Stern, the NBA would not be what it is today. He guided the league through turbulent times and grew the league into an international phenomenon, creating opportunities that few could have imagined before. His vision and leadership provided me with the global stage that allowed me to succeed. David had a deep love for the game of basketball and demanded excellence from those around him — and I admired him for that.” — Michael Jordan.“David Stern... [More]

Reaction from the basketball world and beyond to the death of former NBA Commissioner David Stern on Wednesday at age 77:“For 22 years, I had a courtside seat to watch David in action. He was a mentor and one of my dearest friends. We spent countless hours in the office, at arenas and on planes wherever the game would take us. Like every NBA legend, David had extraordinary talents, but with him it was always about the fundamentals — preparation, attention to detail, and hard work.” — Adam Silver, who followed Stern as commissioner.“Without David Stern, the NBA would not be what it is today. He guided the league through turbulent times and grew the league into an international phenomenon, creating opportunities that few could have imagined before. His vision and leadership provided me with the global stage that allowed me to succeed. David had a deep love for the game of basketball and demanded excellence from those around him — and I admired him for that.” — Michael Jordan.“David Stern... [More]

Golden State owner and CEO Joe Lacob often uses the same phrase when asked about how much money the Warriors are willing to spend to keep a championship-contending roster together."Whatever it takes," Lacob says.In the NBA, those words have never been as weighty.The summer spending starts Sunday in the NBA, with teams and players set to reach agreements on more than $2 billion — maybe even more than $3 billion — in new deals over the next few days. It's a risk-reward play, one where teams must dig deeply into their pockets to land the best players and hope that those massive financial commitments don't end up crippling their franchise for years.The Warriors are likely to offer Kevin Durant a $221 million, five-year deal that will come with two big pills for the team to swallow. One, he'll be on a $38 million scholarship next season while he recovers from Achilles surgery and cannot play. And two, Durant would be owed more than $50 million when his then-35-year-old self plays the final year... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Mitch Kupchak says the Charlotte Hornets plan to do everything they can to keep three-time All-Star Kemba Walker.The Hornets first-year general manager knows that has become a two-sided equation given Walker is set to become an unrestricted free agent in July and able to choose his next team. The 28-year-old Walker was an All-Star game starter this season and averaged a career-high 25.6 points per game, so he's expected to be hot commodity when the free agent market opens in July."I think this is a place that he wants to be and we'll do everything that we can to bring him back here," Kupchak said Friday. "But he is half of the equation."For Walker to stay, Kupchak may have to find productive quality pieces to put around him — and quickly.They've struggled to do that in the past with players like Nicolas Batum — who received a five-year, $120 million contract three years ago — failing to live up to expectations.Walker has said in the past he wants to continue playing... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Tony Parker is excited about finishing his impressive NBA career with the Hornets after 17 seasons with the Spurs. Kemba Walker said he wants to stay in Charlotte, too.The two point guards are at vastly different stages of their careers, but both share the same goal — to make Charlotte a perennial playoff team.Parker expects no less.He's already told his new teammates, "Don't mess with my playoff streak."The 36-year-old Parker has never missed the playoffs, winning four NBA championships along the way. Walker has become a two-time All-Star despite playing on a Hornets team that hasn't won a playoff series since Parker's rookie season in 2001-02.Walker, 28, will become a highly sought after free agent next season but said he emphatically Monday that he has no desire to join a so-called super team."I don't want to be nowhere else," said Walker, the Hornets' all-time leading scorer. "You see guys who are on elite teams. I don't want to do that. I want to create something... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Charlotte Hornets have agreed to trade eight-time All-Star center Dwight Howard to the Brooklyn Nets for center Timofey Mozgov and two second-round draft picks, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday.The Hornets will get the Nets' second-round pick Thursday night (45th overall) and a second-round pick in 2021, the person said. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the teams have not announced the trade and the league cannot approve the deal until the trade moratorium ends on July 6.The 32-year-old Howard played only one season for Charlotte, averaging 16.6 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. He is due to make $23.8 million this season, the final year of his contract.Brooklyn will be Howard's fourth team in as many seasons. He had pushed for a trade from Orlando to the Nets during the 2011-12 season in hopes of joining Deron Williams, then changed his mind and recommitted the Magic, who instead dealt him... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The Charlotte Hornets have agreed to trade eight-time All-Star center Dwight Howard to the Brooklyn Nets for center Timofey Mozgov and two second-round draft picks, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press on Wednesday.The Hornets will get the Nets' second-round pick Thursday night (45th overall) and a second-round pick in 2021, the person said. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the teams have not announced the trade and the league cannot approve the deal until the trade moratorium ends on July 6.The 32-year-old Howard played only one season for Charlotte, averaging 16.6 points and 12.5 rebounds per game. He is due to make $23.8 million this season, the final year of his contract.Brooklyn will be Howard's fourth team in as many seasons.After spending three seasons with the Houston Rockets, Howard was acquired by his hometown Atlanta Hawks in 2016 as a free agent and signed a three-year contract.But he wore out his welcome... [More]

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — New Hornets coach James Borrego plans make Charlotte relevant again in the NBA's Eastern Conference by developing the existing players on the roster.He may not have any other choice.Hornets general manager Mitch Kupchak said Friday "there is no master plan to blow up this team right now" when asked about the chances of dramatically overhauling the roster after back-to-back 36-win seasons. He said Borrego was hired with the understanding that "he was going to coach the guys that are on this team right now."Borrego, who was hired Thursday night as the first Hispanic-American head coach in the NBA history, appeared to be up to the challenge when he was introduced at a news conference on Friday."My mentality is this is our group and we are moving forward with it," said Borrego, who becomes the 11th head coach in franchise history . "I'm excited about that current group as it stands right now. I think our biggest room for growth is the internal development piece."That's... [More]

F Nicolas Batum led the Hornets with 23 points against his former team.

F Nicolas Batum missed the previous game with a left elbow injury but returned to the starting lineup Wednesday and finished with nine points and nine rebounds