Bulls’ rookie Noa Essengue is out for remainder of season following shoulder surgery.

Bulls rookie Noa Essengue will undergo season-ending surgery on his left shoulder.

On Saturday, the Bulls made official what coach Billy Donovan had said a few days earlier: surgery was required, and the usual recovery time is six to seven months. Essengue injured his shoulder in a G-League game and, while the team first said it was a contusion, it turned out to be more than that.

Essengue was the No. 12 pick in last June’s draft and at Summer League showed his fluid athleticism and potential, but also was raw (as expected). He was mainly remembered for being on the wrong end of a meme during his first trip to Las Vegas. The Bulls wanted to deal with this injury now so that Essengue will have next summer to work on his game (whether he will play in Summer League remains to be seen).

This season, Essengue played just six total minutes for the Bulls. In four G-League games, Essengue averaged 23 points a game on 50.8% from the floor, plus grabbing 8.5 rebounds a game.

Latest Pete Alonso free agency buzz: Outside agents, execs don’t believe slugger will get long-term deal he’s seeking

Here is the latest news and buzz surrounding free agent first basemanPete Alonso and his chances of returning to the Mets…

Dec. 6, 2:33 p.m.

As Alonso looks to cash in a highly productive season into a long-term deal, it seems some in the industry do not believe the slugger will get the contract he’s looking for.

Earlier this offseason, it was reported that Alonso was seeking at least a seven-year deal, but the Post’s Joel Sherman spoke to outside agents and execs around the league, and they don’t believe Alonso will come close to that.

“I don’t think length is out there for Alonso,” an AL official told Sherman. 

One veteran agent offered to the Post, “No one is giving him five years. He would be lucky to get four, and that will likely come with a lower AAV [average annual value] and a whopper of deferred dollars.”

Last offseason, Alonso and the Mets had a standoff as the slugger sought a long-term and lucrative contract. New York and Alonso wound up settling on a two-year, $54 million deal just before camp, and after having one of his best offensive seasons, the first baseman opted out to test free agency once again. 

But with teams like the Orioles and Red Sox looking at signing Alonso, it’s likely he’ll get more than what the Mets gave him before the 2025 season.

Dec. 4, 4:08 p.m.

The Red Sox have Alonso and fellow free agent Kyle Schwarber as “primary targets” as they look to add thump to their lineup, reports Jen McCaffrey of The Athletic.

Schwarber’s market is reportedly robust, with the Phillies, Mets, and Reds also involved.

As far as Alonso, it seems Boston and the Mets could be the two likeliest landing spots.

The Sox have also been linked to Alex Bregman (like Alonso, Bregman is repped by Scott Boras), and re-signing him could potentially remove the possibility that they ink Alonso.

When it comes to Bregman’s market, the Tigers are another team with reported interest. 

Dec. 1, 10:09 a.m.

With Alonso’s free agency in its second month, he is waiting for a team to “step to the forefront” for him, reports Jeff Passan of ESPN.

Passan characterizes third baseman Alex Bregman‘s free agency the same way.

Alonso and Bregman are linked in other ways this offseason.

The Sox could be the most serious non-Mets suitor for Alonso, and are also interested in re-signing Bregman.

Beyond that, both players are represented by Scott Boras.

Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns has said numerous times this offseason that the team would love to retain Alonso.

Nov. 17, 9:40 a.m.

The Red Sox are sending “mixed signals” regarding a potential pursuit of Alonso, reports Chris Cotillo of MassLive.

Cotillo notes that at the beginning of the offseason, “a well-connected industry source” didn’t think Boston would be a “major player” for Alonso.

But there are now people in the Red Sox’s “inner circle” who prefer Alonso to fellow free agent Kyle Schwarber.

Schwarber is attached to a qualifying offer, while Alonso is not.

Boston has first baseman Triston Casas, who would seemingly be boxed out of playing time if Alonso signed.

Meanwhile, Josh Naylor agreed to a five-year deal with the Mariners on Sunday — taking one potential Alonso fallback option off the market and removing Seattle as a possible Alonso suitor. 

Nov. 11, 6:19 p.m.

Speaking at the GM Meetings, president of baseball operations David Stearns said the Mets would love to have Alonso (and Edwin Diaz) back.

“We love both Pete and Edwin,” Stearns said. “They’ve been great representatives of the organization. We’d love to have them both back. At this stage of the offseason, it’s really tough to predict any outcomes, but certainly, we would love to have both those guys back.”

Stearns added:

“All parts of player contribution inform how we view the player. For a position player, that’s certainly going to include offense and what they do in the box and what they do defensively. It also includes what they mean to us off the field, what they meant to us in the clubhouse and in the community. All that gets factored in with every player and Pete’s no different.”

Nov. 10, 5:06 p.m.

SNY MLB Insider Andy Martino says his “hunch” is that David Stearns and Steve Cohen “would be happy to welcome Alonso back in 2026” if he’s open to a significant increase in at-bats at DH.

Additionally, Martino notes that it’s “hard to imagine an increased willingness” by the Mets to offer Alonso a deal for four or five years.

Chris Paul: ‘I’m still scared by it all. Still processing everything. But I’m staying ready.’

What’s next for Chris Paul?

He has been sent away from the Clippers (something handled sloppily), but what comes next? NBA insider Chris Haynes texted with Paul and got this response:

“I’m just staying ready. I’m hooping right now. I don’t know what’s next. I’m still scarred by it all. Still processing everything. But I’m staying ready.”

Haynes also got CP3’s thought process behind his cryptic Instagram story of the definition of “leeway.”

The reality of what is next for Chris Paul is a little more complex.

While he is away from the team, the Clippers have not released him and reportedly are working with him on a potential trade. However, league sources told NBC Sports that teams with interest in Paul are going to sit back and wait for him to be released, then sign him as a free agent rather than giving up anything in a deal. The Clippers are up against their first-apron hard cap and can’t release Paul and replace him with another veteran minimum contract. LA can’t afford that until January (they could release him and promote two-way player Kobe Sanders to a regular contract, staying below that line). Beyond that, Paul signed in Los Angeles to be close to his family, he’s not likely to want to go far away to end his career (there is one other team in Los Angeles, but it also is up against a first apron hard cap and is not in a position to bring anyone in for a while, and when they do an older backup guard is not likely the need). It will be interesting to see which teams step up to try to sign him once they can.

Paul may need to be hooping and staying ready on his own for a while.

Scottish Premiership: Rangers aim to move back into fourth at Kilmarnock – team news

Giannis Antetokounmpo: ‘I want to run through the wall, and make things work’

Before NBA training camp opened, rumors about Giannis Antetokounmpo pushing the Bucks to have trade talks with the Knicks were everywhere. That’s when, at media day, Antetokounmpo tried to quash all that saying he was all in on this team now, and in six or seven months maybe he would change his mind.

Then the Bucks stumbled out of the gate, and this week the rumor mill cranked up into high gear this week when a report came out that Antetokounmpo and his agent would meet with the Milwaukee front office to discuss his future with the franchise. Antetokounmpo hasn’t spoken to the media since all this started (he is currently out 2-4 weeks with a calf strain), but he did talk with NBA insider Chris Haynes, who discussed that conversation on Amazon Prime’s NBA coverage Friday, with Antetokounmpo reportedly echoing what he said before the season started.

“I want to run through the wall and make things work.” As a reminder, here is what Antetokounmpo said at media day that was along the same lines:

“I’ve said this many times, I want to be in a situation that I can win and now I’m here. I believe in this team. I believe in my teammates. I’m here to lead this team to wherever we can go and it’s definitely going to be hard. We’re going to take it day by day, but I’m here. So, all the other extra stuff does not matter… Now, if in six, seven months, I change my mind, I think that’s human too, you’re allowed to make any decision you want, but I’m locked in. I’m locked in to this team. I’m locked in to these guys, to this group and to this coaching staff and to myself.”

There should be no doubt that Antetokounmpo wants to make things work in Milwaukee and that he will make every effort to do so. He is not going to be a disruptive force. It’s also possible to play hard and try to make things work while understanding the bigger picture about the Bucks’ competitiveness and what that might mean in the long term.

Milwaukee is only going to trade Antetokounmpo if he pushes for it — it’s the only reason for the conversations with New York in August (after the Knicks had extended Mikal Bridges and couldn’t really make a decent trade offer). There are a lot of questions that flow if and when that request is made — starting with if the Bucks would help get Antetokounmpo to his preferred destination, or if they are taking the offer on the table that’s best for them — but it all has to start with Antetokounmpo willing to forcefully push his way out.

Antetokounmpo being traded still feels more like something that will happen in the offseason, when roster size limits are expanded and the concerns of the luxury tax aprons are less pressing. However, if the Bucks stumble further down in the East while Antetokounmpo is out injured, that dynamic could change.

Al Horford admits he needs to ‘be better’ amid early struggles with Warriors

Al Horford admits he needs to ‘be better’ amid early struggles with Warriors originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Warriors veteran center Al Horford recognizes he has fallen short since his arrival to the Bay Area. 

In an exclusive interview with The Athletic’s Nick Friedell, the 39-year-old big man reflected on his first two months as a part of Golden State, which he joined in late September on a multi-year contract.

The 19-year NBA veteran’s self-assessment? Harsh yet honest and accurate. 

“I’m not where I want to be,” Horford told Friedell on Thursday. “I would say I haven’t been very good. I understand that there’s a lot of work ahead of me, there’s more that I need to do, and I need to be better, and I feel like I will. But right now, I’m not where I want to be.”

To say that Horford’s adjustment to the Warriors has been less than ideal is an understatement. 

The former All-Star and NBA champion, who won’t play back-to-back games this season, only has featured in 13 games for Golden State, averaging career-lows of 5.6 points and 4.4 rebounds in 21.5 minutes. 

On Thursday against the Philadelphia 76ers, Horford returned after missing two weeks due to sciatica.

“It’s not so much frustrating,” Horford told Friedell. “It’s just that there are a lot of different circumstances going on. Whether it’s injury, missing time away from the team, there’s a lot of factors, and there’s no excuses, but I take all of this first part with a hint of salt, and I know that I will be better. So I know that I will be better.”

Outside of adjusting to a new system, injuries and playing for a team based west of the Great Plains, Horford and his wife, Amelia, recently welcomed their sixth child. 

It has been a whirlwind, but Horford knows exactly what parts of his game he has to improve on. 

“For me, it’s continuing to figure everything out defensively,” Horford added to Friedell. “So being more of a support on the defensive end. And then on offense, getting more comfortable in spots so I can impact the team. 

“Being able to get to the right spots to shoot the three, and just giving the team more on the offensive end. Whether it’s setting screens, getting guys open, things like that. That’s always something that I’m going to continue to try to be better at.”

Horford made his first start of the season in the Warriors’ 99-98 loss to the 76ers. 

And although his performance wasn’t the most convincing, it’s a step in the right direction for the veteran, especially during a time in which an injury-riddled Warriors could benefit from the brand of basketball that has kept Horford in the league for nearly two decades.

“That’s always been my mindset,” Horford told Friedell. “And I understand it, but right now the team needs me. We need to be a little better, and this is a part of it; it’s a part of the journey. But in my mind, I know where I need to be when that time comes.”

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Steve Kerr shares what Warriors need from Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski

Steve Kerr shares what Warriors need from Jonathan Kuminga, Brandin Podziemski originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

On the first night of a Midwest back-to-back, the Warriors will be down several key contributors — namely stars Steph Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green — against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Without those steady veterans, coach Steve Kerr needs a big night from Golden State’s second timeline, particularly two players who have struggled lately: Jonathan Kuminga and Brandin Podziemski. Before Saturday’s matchup in Cleveland, Kerr detailed some areas he needs to see improvement from that young duo.

“Well, JK, it’s always run the floor, take care of the ball — the turnovers have been an issue lately,” Kerr told reporters. “So I’m really urging him to get up the floor instead of, you know, holding back in the backcourt and asking for the ball. I want him to be the first guy down the floor, not the last. And I think that’s been an issue the last few games. I don’t think he’s running the floor that well.”

Kuminga had a strong start to the 2025-26 NBA season but hasn’t looked quite like himself since returning from a seven-game absence due to bilateral knee tendinitis.

Podziemski, on the other hand, has been thrust into a larger role while Curry is out with a quad contusion. But in Thursday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers, Podziemski was a team-worst minus-20 in just under 20 minutes, while third-string point guard Pat Spencer was a team-best plus-17 in 24 minutes.

“And then with Brandin, he’s got to get off the ball early,” Kerr continued. “When he gets into trouble is when he tries too hard to make plays on his own, instead of doing what he does best, which is to move the ball and be part of a five-man group that is really executing.

“That’s why Pat has closed these last couple of games and played most of the fourth quarters, if not all, because he’s doing that. So Brandin needs to get back to just focusing on the things he does best.”

With Golden State missing practically all of their veterans on Saturday, Kerr needs Kuminga and Podziemski to return to form to have any chance at taking down a talented Cavaliers squad on the road.

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