Checking in on eight men’s college basketball power players.Kyrie Irving is expected to miss one to two weeks with a bulging disk in his back. The Dallas Mavericks have optimism that treatment over the coming days will provide a return-to-play target.
Irving was announced as out for Monday’s game against the Memphis Grizzlies due to a lumbar sprain in his back. The Mavericks are already without Luka Doncic with a calf injury.
Irving has performed at an All-Star level in his 14th NBA season, averaging 24.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game while shooting 49.0% from the floor and a career-best 44.1% from 3-point range.
March Madness correspondent Andy Katz went live on Bleacher Report to break down the men’s basketball AP poll and his own Power 37 rankings released on Jan. 6, after the ninth week of the regular season.Jimmy Butler will be expected to play for the Miami Heat again following his seven-game suspension if he is not traded by then, a source tells the Miami Herald. Butler will be eligible to play again when the Heat return from their six-game road trip to play the Denver Nuggets on Jan. 17. Miami isn’t interested in letting Butler remain away from the team while paying him the remainder of his salary.
The Heat are listening to trade offers on Butler, but finding a workable deal will be challenging for the team. Butler is on a $48.8 million salary for the season with a player option for 25-26 at $52.4 million. Miami could ultimately find it more appealing to let the Butler situation go into the offseason when he can decide upon his option and possibly trade him then, or participate in a sign-and-trade.
Butler has been disappointed with the Heat primarily because Miami declined to give him a two-year, $113 million contract extension this past summer.
Butler’s seven-game suspension will cost him approximately $2.4 million. The NBPA will file a grievance to dispute the suspension and could go to arbitration.
The Miami Heat have had Jimmy Butler trade discussions with several teams over the last week. One of the interested teams is the Phoenix Suns, but Bradley Beal’s no-trade clause is a sticking point in a possible trade.
For one, Beal has to approve of any deal, or he can use his no-trade clause to block it. The second issue is that Miami doesn’t want to take on Beal, given his no-trade clause would stay intact even after a second trade on the same contract. That means for a trade to happen, a third team likely needs to be involved. And that third team would need to be one that Beal approves of being dealt to.
Beal is owed $50.2 million this season. He has two seasons remaining on his deal beyond this one. Beal will make $53.6 million in 2025-26, followed by a $57.1 million player option in 2026-27.
Chris Haynes reported on Sunday that the Suns will replace Bradley Beal in their starting lineup this week. Rookie Ryan Dunn will take Beal’s place as a starter.
