NBA Player News

Wood agreed Tuesday with the Lakers on a two-year, $5.7 million contract that includes a player option for the 2024-25 season, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reports

Wood was one of the top remaining free agents on the market and will join a Lakers team looking to build off of an appearance in the Western Conference Finals. Over 67 appearances with the Mavericks a season ago, the 27-year-old big man averaged 16.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.1 blocks in 26.0 minutes per contest. Wood saw his role with Dallas decline down the stretch, and though he's been a strong fantasy producer on a per-minute basis, his limitations on the defensive end could relegate him to a backup role at center behind Anthony Davis. The Lakers could at least give Wood a chance to compete for a starting gig if head coach Darvin Ham is willing to deploy Davis at power forward, but if not, Rui Hachimura and Jarred Vanderbilt may be more realistic options to form a starting frontcourt tandem with Davis.

McGee will sign a deal with the Kings, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.

McGee was recently let go by the Mavericks, but the veteran still has plenty left in the tank going into his age-36 season. Minutes won't be easy to come by in Sacramento, however, as McGee will have to compete with Alex Len and Nerlens Noel for backup center minutes behind Domantas Sabonis.

Kessler (concussion) recorded four points and one rebound in six minutes during USA's 109-81 victory over Greece in the FIBA World Cup on Monday.

Kessler ended the 2022-23 campaign in concussion protocol, but as expected, he's back to full strength this summer. The 2022 No. 22 overall pick has a limited role for USA's World Cup squad, but it's still valuable experience for the 22-year-old heading into Year 2. Kessler exceeded expectations as a rookie, posting 9.2 points, 8.4 rebounds and 2.3 blocks in 23.0 minutes per game across 74 appearances (40 starts) and figures to be Utah's starting center for years to come.

Harrell (knee) underwent successful surgery Wednesday to repair his torn ACL and meniscus, Justin Grasso of SI.com reports.

Harrell sustained the right knee injury in early August and will shift his focus toward a lengthy recovery process following Wednesday's procedure. It wouldn't be surprising to see him miss the entire 2023-24 campaign, which would leave Paul Reed and Mo Bamba as the top candidates to fill backup minutes behind star center Joel Embiid.

The Mavericks are expected to stretch-and-waive McGee on Tuesday, Shams Charania of The Athletic reports.

Per Keith Smith of Spotrac.com, McGee is owed approximately $11.7 million over the final two years of the three-year deal he signed with Dallas last offseason. To facilitate McGee's impending release, Dallas will stretch that amount over five years, meaning the center will make around $2.3 million annually through 2027-28. McGee appeared in 42 games (seven starts) last season and averaged just 4.4 points, 2.5 rebounds and a career-low 0.6 blocks in 8.5 minutes per contest. Once the transaction is completed, the 35-year-old will be free to entertain offers from other teams.

Ayton (ribs) played in all four of The Bahamas' FIBA Olympic Pre-Qualifying Tournament games in Argentina last week, averaging 15.5 points, 13.8 rebounds, 1.3 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.8 blocks in 29.9 minutes per contest.

Playing alongside fellow NBA veterans Buddy Hield and Eric Gordon, Ayton guided The Bahamas to a 4-0 record en route to winning the tournament and sending the island nation into another tournament next July that would give it a chance to qualify for its first Olympic berth at the 2024 Summer Games in Paris. After concluding the tournament with 10 points and 21 rebounds in The Bahamas' upset win over tournament host Argentina on Sunday, Ayton looks to be fully healthy again after a rib contusion kept him out for the Suns' season-ending loss May 11 to the Nuggets in Game 6 of the Western Conference Semifinals. Though multiple reports indicated that the Suns had been exploring trades for Ayton this offseason, the 25-year-old center looks set to stay in Phoenix for his sixth NBA season, with the team hoping that he proves to be a better fit under new head coach Frank Vogel than predecessor Monty Williams.

Landale is expected to miss the Australian national team's remaining games in the FIBA World Cup after he suffered a left ankle injury midway through the first quarter of Wednesday's 88-67 exhibition win over South Sudan, Olgun Uluc of ESPN.com reports.

Australia head coach Brian Goorjian said after the game that Landale will undergo an MRI, and though the extent of his injury won't be known until the results of his medical tests are available, the Boomers aren't counting on the 27-year-old center making it back on the court before the tournament comes to an end Sept. 10. Heading into Wednesday, Landale had already missed Australia's first two warmup games with a right ankle injury. Given the multiple ankle injuries, Landale may not receive clearance from the Rockets -- who signed him to a three-year contract in free agency in July -- to suit up in the World Cup even if the MRI doesn't reveal anything overly concerning. Unless he requires surgery to address the ankle injury, Landale should still have a good chance of being available for the start of the Rockets' training camp in early October.

The Celtics announced Wednesday that Porzingis (foot) will require a 4-to-6 week rehab program but is expected to be ready for the start of training camp.

Porzingis announced Tuesday that he'll sit out the FIBA World Cup this month while recovering from plantar fasciitis in his right foot, and he'll be on the mend for several more weeks beyond the conclusion of the tournament. He should be back to full health in time for the start of the regular season, but the 28-year-old has dealt with numerous injuries in recent years, so an offseason setback is somewhat concerning. Despite his health issues, Porzingis has topped 20 points per contest in each of the last four seasons, averaging 21.0 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 31.1 minutes per game during that time.

Porzingis announced Tuesday via his personal Twitter account that he won't participate for the Latvian national team in this month's FIBA World Cup due to a foot injury.

Porzingis relayed that he's been recovering for several weeks from plantar fasciitis in his foot. He said that the decision to sit out the FIBA World Cup was made by the national team's medical and coaching staffs, as well as the Celtics' brass. Porzingis was traded to Boston this offseason and quickly signed a two-year, $60 million extension, so as long as he's available for the start of training camp, the versatile veteran figures to play a major role for the Celtics in 2023-24. However, health has been a concern throughout his career.

The Kings signed Queta (foot) to a two-year, $4.2 million contract Tuesday, James Ham of ESPN 1320 Sacramento reports.

Queta split time between the NBA and G League in 2022-23 as a two-way player. In five appearances for Sacramento, he averaged 2.4 points and 2.2 rebounds in 5.8 minutes. The 24-year-old center missed the end of the Summer League due to right foot soreness but should be ready to go for the regular season. Queta will likely compete for backup center minutes with Alex Len and Nerlens Noel in 2023-24.