NBA Notes: Mavericks, Cooper Flagg, Kings, Nique Clifford, Sixers

October 26, 2026

Mavericks

Cooper Flagg’s shoulder injury looked concerning Friday. By Monday morning, the Mavericks were getting a considerably more encouraging picture.

Dallas upgraded Flagg to probable against the Heat after he participated in shootaround, according to Grant Afseth of Dallas Sports Journal. The reigning Rookie of the Year missed Saturday’s home opener against the Spurs with a mild left shoulder sprain suffered at Indiana.

The Mavericks initially announced that Flagg would be reevaluated next week. Now he could be back after missing just one game.

That would help, as Dallas still has a fairly crowded injury report. Naji Marshall is out with an illness, while Caleb Martin remains sidelined with a sprained right thumb. Santi Aldama, Dereck Lively II and Tarik Biberovic have yet to make their season debuts.

So getting Flagg back wouldn’t make the Mavericks whole. But they’ll gladly start there.

Kings

The Kings have committed to another season of Nique Clifford. Finding him minutes this season has been a different matter.

Sacramento exercised Clifford’s third-year option Monday, guaranteeing his approximately $3.42 million salary for 2027-28, as Rory Maher of Hoops Rumors detailed.

Clifford averaged 8.6 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.4 assists in 75 games as a rookie, playing 25.1 minutes per night. His second season has opened with 17 minutes, then two, then none in Sunday’s loss to the Grizzlies.

That’s probably not the progression he had in mind.

The Kings traded into the first round to select Clifford at No. 24 in 2025. Picking up the option gives them more time to develop that investment, even as his immediate role has shrunk.

Sacramento is 0-3 after finishing 22-60 last season. There’s plenty to sort out beyond Clifford’s place in the rotation.

Sixers

LeBron James would prefer not to spend too much time playing center. Adem Bona gave him a reason to feel good about another option Sunday.

Bona finished with six points and 13 rebounds in 25 minutes against the Pistons, earning an enthusiastic review from James, via ESPN’s Kris Rhim.

“I thought he was amazing tonight: his energy, his effort,” James said. “For us, who weren’t rebounding well, he came in and gave us that spark on the rebounding offensively and defensively.”

Bona has been dealing with a foot issue himself, but Philadelphia needed his minutes with Joel Embiid and several other big men unavailable. He figures to be Embiid’s primary backup when the roster gets healthier.

“So, I think his energy and his effort are going to be great for our team throughout the whole season,” James said.

For the Sixers, having someone chase down a few more rebounds would be a welcome development. Having that someone be an actual center would help, too.