Henry Payton

The Rockets view getting Fred VanVleet back as their big move and are NOT expected to make any big trades during the season, per @BannedMacMahon “They've got a bunch of picks, and they're not burning a hole in their pocket. I'll put it to you like that. Because they really like what they have now. Their big move was getting Fred VanVleet back. Another big move, and he's still out right now, is going to be getting Steven Adams back. They put together a team that had a chance last year, and they just never got to see it because of VanVleet's injury and then Steven Adams' injury. I don't think the Rockets are a big mid-season shakeup team. I think they've got a group that has a chance right now, and they're going to let this thing play out.” (youtube.com/watch?v=suQbbLQ4…)

Players in the Suns’ locker room are frustrated by the lack of a true point guard on the roster, per @ChrisBHaynes "There's some growing frustration within that locker room for the simple fact that that roster does not have a point guard that can organize that offense... I don't know that the Suns are looking to address as of right now, the hope is that they can kind of play this role by committee, but as of right now, it's not looking like it." (via @NBATV / h/t @ClutchPoints )

first five first five

BREAKING: Ernie Johnson announces that this will be his final season

REPORT: The belief around the league is that the Pelicans and Dejounte Murray are working together to find him a “better situation”, per @FearTheBrown.

Jordan Poole has informed the Pelicans that he’s open to playing elsewhere, per @FearTheBrown “Sources say Jordan Poole has told the Pelicans he would be open to opportunities elsewhere. His preference raises a broader question about how many of the team's veterans see their long-term future in New Orleans. Poole has also recorded more minutes than Jones in the last two contests.” (Via intheno.net/herb-jones-caree…)

Indiana Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton has sustained a left hamstring strain and will miss time, sources tell ESPN. Pacers doctors and Haliburton are now gathering a clear timeline.

Josh Hart squared up on a Pistons assistant coach and had him worried for a second 💀💀💀 (Via @jschwartz115)

Saddiq Bey 2020➡️2026

Just in: Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards will undergo an arthroscopic procedure on his ailing right knee and miss up to two months, sources tell ESPN.

Bam Adebayo said he never wanted to be the captain of the Miami Heat: “He’s (UD) mentoring me because I never wanted to be captain — I been telling him that, I don’t want that…let me go worry about myself, when I come to the job I want to worry about me and then I’ll say some couple words. Everyday he (UD) was like ‘you gotta say something in the huddle, you gotta break us down in the huddle, you gotta start talking to Spo’ I was like ‘will you leave me the f*ck alone’..”

Holy

Coach Mosley on Herb Jones' minutes, via @Jim_Eichenhofer: "Herb is the ultimate professional. Finding more time for him is going to be a key priority for me." Jones this season: 3.3 PPG (down from 8.9 last season) 0.7 SPG (down from 1.6) 17.0 MPG (down from 28.4)

Paul Pierce is reportedly “drowning financially” with the following monthly bills, per @TMZ - $28,000 child support - $20,000 spousal support - $8,000 childcare - $7,000 eating out - $5,000 groceries - $3,500 entertainment - $3,200 utilities - $1,000 clothes Pierce says he only has $300k left in the bank despite making $200 million playing in the NBA (tmz.com/2026/10/27/paul-pier…)