Joel Embiid visits Meek Mill in prison

By Dan FeldmanDec 7, 2017, 8:00 PM EST
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Joel Embiid once sparked controversy for dancing shirtless at a Meek Mill concert while injured.

Now that Meek Mill is embroiled in his own controversy – imprisoned for a probation violation – the 76ers star is sticking with his friend.

Jessica Camerato of NBC Sports Philadelphia:

Joel Embiid visited rapper and friend Meek Mill this week to offer encouragement.

“First of all, it was scary,” Embiid said Saturday after shootaround. “I’m never going to jail. I got into that place and I was pretty scared. I just wanted to go out there, support him, pretty good friend of mine. So I just wanted to go out there, show him some support and let him know that we’re behind him. There was a little bit of injustice there so I just wanted to go out there with whoever I was to show him the support.”

The United States imprisons too many people, and it’s important to support and speak up on behalf of the wrongly incarcerated.

Report: NBA putting minor-league team in Mexico City as soon as next season

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By Dan FeldmanDec 7, 2017, 7:00 PM EST
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Seattle isn’t the only city that could be adding a professional basketball team.

A Mexico City team in the NBA’s minor league is moving from possibility toward inevitability.

Marc Stein of The New York Times:

MEXICO CITY — The National Basketball Association intends to put an N.B.A. G League franchise here in the Mexican capital, according to three people familiar with the league’s plans.

A team in the G League, N.B.A.’s official minor league, which would be owned and operated locally, could begin play as early as next season, according to the people, who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the subject publicly.

One proposal for this plan involved the Mexico City team being unaffiliated with an NBA team. Rather, Mexico City would stock its roster from the NBA’s global youth academies.

Perhaps, that’s still in the cards. The Trail Blazers and Nuggets, the only NBA teams without a minor-league affiliate or announced plans to get one, could be involved. Or an existing minor-league team could move.

No matter how a minor-league team gets to Mexico City, remember, the NBA uses its minor league to experiment for the top league.

Hornets’ Cody Zeller has torn medial meniscus in left knee, out indefinitely

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By Kurt HelinDec 7, 2017, 6:08 PM EST
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It’s been a rough week for the Charlotte Hornets. First, coach Steve Clifford had to take a leave of absence from the team for personal health reasons. Stephen Silas gets welcomed to the big coaching chair by having to go against the Golden State Warriors, and a fully unleashed Kevin Durant. Now comes this:

Backup center Cody Zeller has suffered a torn medial meniscus in his left knee, the team announced Thursday. Zeller is out indefinitely as is considering his treatment options, according to the team (surgery is possible depending on the type and severity of the tear). The injury occurred in the third quarter against the Warriors Wednesday.

Zeller is giving the Hornets nearly 20 minutes a night off the bench, and he’s been solid in that role averaging 7.7 points and 5.5 rebounds a night. He plays around the basket, 75 percent of his shots come at the rim, but he has struggled this season to finish a little and is shooting just 50 percent inside the restricted area.

With Zeller out, expect to see a lot more Johnny O’Bryant and Treveon Graham.

The Hornets also announced that forward Frank Kaminsky suffered a sprained right ankle against Golden State and is out for Friday’s game against Chicago. He is day-to-day after that.

All of this is another blow for a 9-14 Hornets team that is fighting to get back into the playoff picture in the East. They need to find more consistent offense, and losing key rotational big men is not going to help that.

Reports: Jahlil Okafor, Nik Stauskas traded to Brooklyn for Trevor Booker

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By Kurt HelinDec 7, 2017, 4:36 PM EST
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Jahlil Okafor is going to get his chance to prove he can contribute in the NBA.

For their trouble, Philadelphia is going to get some veteran depth up front.

The Sixers are sending Okafor and shooting guard Nik Stauskas, plus a second-round pick, to Brooklyn for veteran power forward — and impressive dunker — Trevor Booker, a story broken by Zach Lowe of ESPN.

Okafor has been on the trade block for more than a year, the Sixers finally found a deal they like. This was a good deal for both teams.

It’s good that Okafor, the No. 3 pick in the 2015 draft (one spot ahead of Kristaps Porzingis) who has battled injuries and an NBA game that has moved away from his skill set. Okafor is a project, he doesn’t have much shooting range nor can he defend very well (in space or at the rim). He plays below the rim. He may not be the star that he was projected to be, but in Brooklyn Okafor will get a chance to show he can get buckets around the rim and out of the post, and that he has a role in the league. There is potential for him in an Al Jefferson/Zach Randolph kind of role (likely off the bench).

Brooklyn also gets a shooter in Stauskas who was out of the rotation in Philly (with J.J Redick and Timothe Luwawu getting run ahead of him). The Nets are rebuilding, and taking a flier on a couple of former first-round pick is the kind of gamble they should be taking. The Nets now have two of the top three picks from the 2015 draft, they got D'Angelo Russell from the Lakers last summer.

Philadelphia is eyeing the playoffs, and Booker gives them a solid big man off the bench that they can pair with Amir Johnson and/or Richaun Holmes. Booker is a glue guy who plays with energy every night — exactly the kind of veteran the Sixers have tried to surround their young core with. The Sixers get better in the short term with this move.

Report: Spurs planning for Kawhi Leonard to return Saturday against Suns

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By Dan FeldmanDec 7, 2017, 4:00 PM EST
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The Spurs reportedly considered playing Kawhi Leonard on Monday. Even though he didn’t play, that showed just how close he was.

Now, a target date is set.

Jabari Young of the San Antonio Express-News:

League sources tell the Express-News Leonard could make his season debut for the Spurs on Saturday against the Phoenix Suns barring any setbacks.

The Spurs have gone an impressive 17-8 without an injured Leonard. LaMarcus Aldridge carried a large load. The supporting cast stepped up. Gregg Popovich showed what makes him such a good coach.

But San Antonio needs a healthy Leonard to vault into championship contention.

A game against the Devin Booker–less Suns is a good warmup.