NBA Notes: Lakers, Austin Reaves, Spurs, Victor Wembanyama, free agents

Lakers

Lakers guard Austin Reaves will miss at least one week after being diagnosed with a mild left calf strain, the team announced Friday. He will be reexamined after that window, according to Dan Woike of The Athletic.

Los Angeles plays just twice during the next week, Sunday at Phoenix and next Thursday at Utah. Reaves is expected to miss both games before undergoing further evaluation.

The timing stings for a player who has been one of the league’s early-season standouts. Reaves is averaging 27.8 points, 6.7 assists and 5.6 rebounds in 36.9 minutes per game, all career highs, while shooting better than 50 from the floor. He has appeared in 21 games after missing three in early November with a groin issue.

With Reaves sidelined, Gabe Vincent and Marcus Smart are positioned to see expanded backcourt minutes, while LeBron James is expected to shoulder more playmaking responsibility.

Spurs

Victor Wembanyama is expected to return Saturday for San Antonio’s NBA Cup semifinal against Oklahoma City, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The Spurs have officially listed the star center as probable.

Wembanyama has missed the past 12 games since suffering a left calf strain on November 14, but coach Mitch Johnson hinted earlier this week that a return was imminent. 

Before the injury, Wembanyama was performing at an MVP-caliber level, averaging 26.2 points, 12.9 rebounds, four assists and 3.6 blocks while the Spurs won eight of their first 12 games.

Barring a late setback, Saturday is expected to mark the first time the Spurs have De’Aaron Fox, Stephon Castle, Dylan Harper and Wembanyama all available together. Whether that group can slow the 24-1 Thunder remains an open question.

Off the floor, San Antonio signed guard Kyle Mangas to a two-way contract, per NBA transaction logs, with Riley Minix waived to create roster space, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reported.

Mangas, an undrafted guard out of Indiana Wesleyan, has played professionally overseas and in the G League. He is averaging 18.5 points and five assists in 10 games with the Austin Spurs this season. Minix averaged 15.5 points at the G League level but appeared in just four NBA games with San Antonio.

Free Agents

Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report ranked the top 20 available free agents, with Malik Beasley, Ben Simmons and Tristen Newton headlining the list.

Newton has logged limited NBA action but continues to produce in the G League, averaging 26.3 points and 8.1 assists this season.