Goran Dragic reported to the Toronto Raptors despite initially expressing a hope he would end up with a contending team following his trade from the Miami Heat.

According to TSN, the Raptors still hope to trade Dragic for an asset or two by the deadline.

“He's been fantastic,” Nick Nurse said. “I checked in with him after the trade, a few days after some of that stuff. We discussed possible roles, and he's just like, 'coach, whatever, I'm good’. He's very enjoyable to talk to. He's got a super high IQ. He loves the game, obviously, competes to win, plays smart. He's been really, really fun to have.”

Dragic addresses a need at the guard position as he could either play next to Fred VanVleet or he can also anchor a second unit.

Joel Embiid responded to a report this week that indicated Ben Simmons feels his career would be in a better place if he didn't play with Embiid.

“I saw (the report),” Embiid said. “I don’t know if it came from him or whatever, but over the past few months stuff has been put out there. And, looking by the reaction of him not being here, I feel like it’s fair to assume that it’s coming from ... whether it’s his agent or his people or whatever. Like I said, it is disappointing, but I feel like over the years the way our team has been built around — like you look at last year, I was the worst three-point shooter of the starting lineup and I shot 38 percent from three. 

“We’ve always had shooters, and I feel like I can really play with anybody and I can make anybody be better on the court. I don’t necessarily need shooters. But I feel like over the years — like you look at when we got Al (Horford), it’s because we needed a stretch five, just to make sure that was for him. And most of my career I’ve had to kind of step out to the three-point line quite a bit — which I don’t mind. I like to be a basketball player; I like to do everything on the basketball court. But I feel like our teams have been built — whether it’s the shooting, the stretch five and all that stuff — I feel like he’s always had it here.”

Embiid continued and spoke of the many three-point shooters still on Philadelphia's roster. 

“It was kind of surprising to see what was said,” Embiid continued. “Even going back to the reason we signed Al. We got rid of Jimmy (Butler), which I still think was a mistake, but he needed the ball in his hands and that’s the decision they made. But, like I said, it is surprising. But I’m really focused on the guys that are here. 

“The situation is weird, disappointing, borderline kind of disrespectful to all the guys that are out here fighting for their lives. Some guys rely on the team to be successful, to stay in the league and make money somehow. Because, if you’re on a winning team, you’re always going to have a spot in the league, just because you’re on a winning team and you contributed. Obviously we’re a better team with him. We’re not a better team without him, that’s for sure. We are a better team with him but, like I said, it is surprising. But I’m focused on the guys that are here. 

“We’re trying to get better, trying to get on the same agenda. … Every single day we’ve got to attack it, and try to get better every single day. But we are a better team with him. There’s no question about it. We still hope that he changes his mind, but I owe it to these guys to worry about what we have here. That’s the front office’s job to figure out what’s going to happen. That’s not my job; I’m not a GM, I’m not an owner, so that’s none of my business, honestly.”

Simmons is currently holding out but the 76ers hope he eventually reports. 

When Kyrie Irving took a personal leave last January, the Houston Rockets inquired about the potential availability of him in James Harden trade talks.

Sources tell Jake Fischer of Bleacher Report that the Nets never entertained trading Irving.

Multiple executives across the league have speculated that a trade of Irving to the Philadelphia 76ers for Ben Simmons could solve each of their problems. Irving is currently unable to play home games with the Nets due to his position on not taking a COVID-19 vaccine, while Simmons has requested a trade and doesn't plan to report.

Several league sources with knowledge of the situation have strongly pushed back on the notion that either Irving or the Nets are interested in a trade. 

"Kyrie came to Brooklyn to win a championship alongside Kevin Durant," one veteran executive told Bleacher Report.

James Harden's camp, meanwhile, have communicated that they expect Irving to remain with the Nets.

The Nets have worked patiently behind closed doors with Irving during other incidents.

"I'm sure Sean Marks and Steve Nash aren't thrilled with the situation, but despite all the s--t that goes on, they still treat him really well there," one league source with knowledge of the situation said. "They hear him out. They make the effort to try and communicate with him. That's why Brooklyn is a special place."

Tommy Sheppard cleared the record indicating that Russell Westbrook never demanded a trade from the Washington Wizards. 

The Wizards traded Westbrook to the Los Angeles Lakers several hours before the draft in July.

“I really have to make sure the record is straight on that,” Sheppard said in an interview with NBC Sports Washington’s Chris Miller. “Russell actually never asked to move on. He just said, ‘If I can get to the Lakers, that’d be something I would love to do. If not, I’ll be back here.’ I said, ‘What about the Clippers?’ He said, ‘Hell no.’ So Russell was happy being here and we were very grateful for him being here.”

Westbrook reportedly reached out to Kawhi Leonard in 2019 about joining him on the Clippers via trade before it eventually became Paul George moving from the Oklahoma City Thunder. 

The Clippers, for their part, were reportedly not interested in Westbrook this offseason.

The San Antonio Spurs have discussed a trade for Ben Simmons with the Philadelphia 76ers, but sources tell Zach Lowe of ESPN that those talks have not gotten far.

The Spurs lack a foundational star, which hurts them in their efforts to trade for a player of Simmons' caliber.

When the Spurs traded Kawhi Leonard, they turned down several offers that were heavy on future first round picks. San Antonio choice instead to pair LaMarcus Aldridge with DeMar DeRozan. San Antonio also acquired Jakob Poeltl and the pick that became Keldon Johnson.

While Joel Embiid insisted to reporters on Monday that he would like to continue playing with Ben Simmons, the feeling is not mutual.

“It has run its course,” a source told The Athletic of their pairing.

Simmons perceives the way the Philadelphia 76ers have built around Embiid as not being conducive to the way he wants to play.

“Rightfully so,” one source said of building around Embiid. “But it’s time for a change.”

When the 76ers flew to Los Angeles to meet with Simmons in August, they came equipped with reasons for why he should want to stay, which even included a statistically based presentation featuring the success of the Embiid-Simmons pairing. His view and his uneasy feeling about the fit remain unchanged.

Since the Portland Trail Blazers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs by a depleted Denver Nuggets team, there has been speculation about the future of Damian Lillard.

Lillard enters the season, however, with "faith" that the Blazers are going in the right direction.

"I think over the years we've always had a competitive team, I think we'll be competitive again," Lillard said Monday at the team's media day. "Obviously, at the end of last season I wanted to see our roster improve. I wanted us to have a better chance to win. And we had our conversations throughout the summer about what that looked like, and how we could take steps in that direction. I come into this season with faith that that's going to happen."

While the Blazers 

"We've established so much as a team and as an organization, we don't want to just go do something to just to say, 'I made a change,'" Lillard said. "You want it to be in line with something that could actually make us better, something that could send us to the level that we're trying to get to. We've done some things that I like. I didn't expect us to go out there and get Kevin Durant of the sudden."

Bradley Beal has revealed that he is not vaccinated against COVID-19 though he declined to share why.

"Personal reasons," said Beal.

Beal contracted COVID-19 in July and was forced to skip the Olympics. Beal's chances of contracting COVID-19 increased by not being vaccinated.

"I would ask the question to those who are getting vaccinated 'why are you still getting COVID?'" said Beal. 

Beal doesn't believe his vaccination status will be a distraction.

"I don't think it will be. We're going to play basketball and do that at the highest level. We have protocols and things in place to make sure we're taken care of and tested regularly."

The Philadelphia 76ers have confirmed Ben Simmons will not report to camp when it opens on Tuesday.

Daryl Morey said there's still hope Simmons will return to the Sixers at some point. Morey also said that the CBA is "very clearly spelled out" what options are available to teams when a player holds out. Morey added that he won't talk about specifics in terms of fines.

Morey hasn't spoken with the Simmons since their meeting in Los Angeles several weeks ago. Morey has talked with the representatives of Simmons since then.

The 76ers continue to seek a trade of Simmons.

Zion Williamson was asked about his relationship with the New Orleans Pelicans and David Griffin on media day on Monday.

"That might be the best question of the day," said Williamson. "I love it here. I love the city of New Orleans. I don't want to be anywhere else."

A report last week detailed frustrations Williamson and others have had with Griffin.

"It's all love with me and Griff," said Williamson.