NBA notebook: Wall reportedly fined, put on trade block

ByReuters

Published 20/11/2018 at 01:31 GMT

With the Washington Wizards in 11th place in the Eastern Conference, All-Star guards John Wall and Bradley Beal -- and all other players on the roster -- are available in trade talks, ESPN reported Monday, citing league sources.

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And the increasing tension apparently is getting to Wall, who was fined an
undisclosed amount Monday for his verbal attack unleashed at coach Scott
Brooks during a recent practice session, according to ESPN.

Per the ESPN report, Wizards teammate Jeff Green and Brooks prodded Wall and
other teammates to raise the level of intensity in a practice last week. That
led to an expletive from Wall aimed at Brooks.

Wall apologized to Brooks minutes after the explosion, and to his teammates
the following day, league sources said.

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--Chicago Bulls guard Denzel Valentine will have reconstructive surgery on his
left ankle next week.

Valentine was diagnosed with ongoing ankle instability after being evaluated
by Dr. Bob Anderson, a foot and ankle specialist in Green Bay, Wis. Anderson
will perform the surgery, and the expected recovery time is four to six
months.

The team added in its announcement that the 25-year-old is expected to be
fully recovered for offseason workouts heading into training camp next summer.

--The Memphis Grizzlies have had "extensive discussions" with free agent
center Joakim Noah in recent days, the New York Times' Marc Stein reported.

Noah, 33, was waived by the New York Knicks in October with two years and
$37.8 million remaining on his contract.

The 11-year NBA veteran spent his first nine seasons with the Chicago Bulls,
earning two All-Star nods and three All-Defensive Team selections. He was the
2013-14 NBA Defensive Player of the Year.

--New Orleans Pelicans point guard Elfrid Payton will miss approximately six
weeks due to his fractured left pinky, the team announced.

Payton is scheduled to undergo surgery on Tuesday to repair the finger.

The 24-year-old sustained the break Friday during a victory over the Knicks.
The injury occurred in his first game after he missed nine consecutive games
with an ankle injury.

--Heat guard Goran Dragic had his swollen right knee drained of fluid and will
miss at least three games, according to the team.

Dragic has missed four of the past nine games due to knee issues, including
Miami's Sunday game against the Los Angeles Lakers. The team is hoping the
inflammation will subside by next week.

"I was relieved it was just fluids," Dragic said. "They got the fluid out this
morning, and from here on I just need to rest a little bit and get back out
there."

--Miami Heat guard Josh Richardson was fined $25,000 for throwing his shoe
into the crowd, NBA executive vice president of basketball operations Kiki
VanDeWeghe announced.

The incident occurred during the Heat's 113-97 home loss to the Los Angeles
Lakers on Nov. 18. With 6:31 remaining in the fourth quarter, Richardson flung
his sneaker into the stands in disgust and was assessed a technical foul and
ejected from the game.

Richardson finished the loss with 17 points, six rebounds and three assists in
25 minutes. He has been Miami's leading scorer this season, averaging 20.4
points through the season's first 16 games.

--Field Level Media

Basketball