Eddie Sefko: Dennis Smith Jr. says his left knee is fine and he’ll play tonight at Utah 8 pm tip. Said the “questionable” designation doesn’t apply 2nite
Earl K. Sneed: Rick Carlisle says the @Dallas Mavericks are monitoring Dennis Smith Jr.'s left knee closely: "This is a greater workload than he's ever hard."
Tim MacMahon: Mavs rookie PG Dennis Smith Jr., who missed the last two games due to left knee effusion, is questionable for Monday against the Warriors.
Eddie Sefko: Rick Carlisle on any news re: Dennis Smith Jr.s, left knee: "Nothing that I’m going to report.” Don't overreact to that. Just nothing new.
Smith tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in August 2015, the summer before his senior year of high school. He experienced swelling in the knee after shootaround Friday, and the decision was made to not start him less than an hour before the game.
Earl K. Sneed: Per @MavsPR, Dennis Smith Jr. is out for the @Dallas Mavericks vs. Sacramento with left knee effusion. #DALvsSAC
Earl K. Sneed: Dennis Smith Jr. (left ankle sprain) says he will play for the @Dallas Mavericks tonight in Charlotte. He'll have a lot of family in the crowd.
Earl K. Sneed: Dennis Smith Jr.: "Being a gamer, one of my goals is just to not miss any games after my ACL injury. I missed a whole year with that."
June 29, 2022 | 9:11 am EDT Update
Blazers to offer Damian Lillard a two-year extension over $100 million

Having landed Lillard’s one-time Team USA running mate Jerami Grant from Detroit before the NBA draft, Portland is now expected to offer the All-NBA guard a two-year contract extension that will exceed over $100 million, sources told B/R.
Blazers keeping Jusuf Nurkic?

Starting center Jusuf Nurkic appears destined to be a part of the Blazers’ future, with a belief among league personnel he will sign a four-year deal worth roughly $17 million in average annual value.
Fred VanVleet expected to sign $110 million extension with Raptors

Toronto and Fred VanVleet appear headed towards a contract extension that could approach four years and over $110 million, sources told B/R. Thaddeus Young is expected to find a two-year agreement worth at least $10 million to rejoin Toronto.

Toronto continues to monitor the availability of several elite centers, sources said, including Utah Jazz All-Star Rudy Gobert.

The Wizards are one of the teams that have inquired about Dejounte Murray in San Antonio, sources said, but Washington doesn’t seem to have an offer capable of landing the Spurs’ All-Star.

Outside of San Antonio, there doesn’t appear to be any serious active trade conversation surrounding Collins. Sacramento, Portland, Boston and Brooklyn all registered some level of interest in Collins around the draft, but none of those teams appear far along with Atlanta on Collins deals at this juncture.

Minnesota is expected to have interest in Tyus Jones, but Washington has been the one rival team most often connected with the Grizzlies’ point guard. Jones is said to be seeking a multi-year deal above the non-taxpayer mid-level exception of $10.1 million for the ’22-23 season.
Victor Oladipo done in Miami?

Early indications are Tyler Herro’s extension with Miami will settle around $25 million in average annual value. Victor Oladipo is not expected to return to the Heat and is said to have interest from Washington, Denver and Detroit, in the salary range of the taxpayer MLE.