NBA Notes: Kings, Keegan Murray, draft buzz, Heat, Terry Rozier

Kings

The Kings should have Keegan Murray back on track by the fall.

Murray recently underwent a minimally invasive arthroscopic procedure on his left ankle to remove loose bodies, according to James Ham of The Kings Beat. The expected recovery timeline is six to eight weeks, which puts him in line to be ready for training camp.

Sacramento will welcome that news. Murray’s 2025-26 season never really got going. He played just 23 games while dealing with a series of injuries, including thumb surgery and multiple ankle issues.

When he was on the court, the production dipped. He averaged 14.0 points and shot a career-low 27.7 percent from three. Still, the Kings remain invested after signing him to a five-year, $140 million extension that kicks in this summer.

NBA Draft

There is a lot happening at the combine, and it is not just about workouts.

Santa Clara forward Allen Graves is leaning toward staying in the draft as long as he feels good about his chances to land in the first round, per ESPN’s Jeff Borzello. That outlook appears justified. Multiple outlets have him projected somewhere in the mid-to-late first.

Elsewhere, Stanford guard Ebuka Okorie and Duke wing Isaiah Evans are among those fully committed to staying in the draft, while international guard Jack Kayil is generating some quiet buzz after strong feedback in Chicago.

All of it is unfolding against a changing backdrop. As Jake Fischer of The Stein Line has reported, teams are growing more cautious about trading first-round picks amid looming lottery reform. That hesitation could shape both draft decisions and trade talks in the months ahead.

Heat

The situation between Terry Rozier and the league is not going away.

Rozier and the NBA recently met with an arbitrator for a second time as the league continues to challenge whether he should receive his full $26.6 million salary for the 2025-26 season, according to Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic.

Rozier previously won an initial arbitration ruling, but the NBA is pushing back again as the case drags on following his arrest last fall.

For now, it remains unresolved. But it is another situation worth watching as the offseason approaches and financial decisions come into focus across the league.