Cedi Osman’s season is on hold for a while after the former NBA forward underwent surgery to repair an “extensive” tear in his right meniscus. PAOK said Osman will be out at least three months, and the Greek club announced the update in a press release.
PAOK coach Andrea Trinchieri made sure Sunday’s win was about more than the final score. He dedicated the victory to Osman, saying, “ Whoever even thinks we can replace Cedi Osman, as a player or as a person on our team, doesn’t understand basketball,” Trinchieri said.
“ Today, we did it for Cedi and for the team. The surgery went very well, and that’s great news.”
Osman’s injury was only part of a busy stretch of news across the basketball landscape. AEK Athens forward Greg Brown III is headed for surgery after rupturing his right Achilles tendon in Sunday’s loss to Panathiniakos, the Greek club announced.
Brown, the 43rd pick in the 2021 draft, spent three seasons in the NBA from 2021-24 before playing last year with the Calgary Surge of the Canadian Elite Basketball League. He then joined AEK in the 2025 offseason.
Jeremy Sochan also offered some insight into his path this season in an interview with Marc Stein of DLLS Mavs. Sochan explained why he chose to join the Mavericks’ G League affiliate instead of taking European opportunities after the Trail Blazers cut him before the season started.
He said his relationship with Mavs GM Mike Schmitz was a major factor in the decision. Sochan also discussed his three-and-a-half years with the Spurs and what it was like to win a championship with the Knicks last season.
Dalano Banton’s stint in China ended quickly. Eight weeks after signing with the Shandong Hi-Speed Kirin, the Canadian guard/forward has been waived, according to Sportando.
Banton, who finished last season with the Celtics, averaged 7.8 points and 3.3 assists while shooting 32% from the field in a short stay that didn’t take off. The five-year NBA veteran could now be a name to watch for European teams, after reportedly drawing interest from several clubs over the summer.
And in another development, Mike Vorkunov of The Athletic reported that Ed Davis was involved with Malik Beasley in an alleged gambling-related scheme. According to Vorkunov, Davis loaned money to Beasley, who was millions of dollars in gambling debt, and then helped devise a plan for Beasley to repay him by influencing his play in games so Davis and others could benefit from prop bets. Davis, who spent 12 years in the league, originally pleaded not guilty to sports bribery, conspiracy to commit wire fraud and two other charges.
In Other News...
Mavericks Finally Look Healthier But One Rotation Question Still Looms
The Mavericks are starting to get some bodies back at a useful time, with a back-to-back looming against the Nets and Pacers. Kyrie Irving is not listed on the injury report for the upcoming game, and Dallas is finally getting closer to something resembling its regular rotation after a stretch in which availability has been a moving target.
Even so, the injury report still leaves a few questions hanging over Sunday. Dallas has four players listed, with three already ruled out because of various injuries, so the staff may still have to juggle minutes and roles even as the roster gets healthier. Brooklyn has not submitted its report yet, but the Nets are expected to be without guards Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr., which only adds another layer to a game where the Mavericks are trying to stabilize their lineup without overextending anyone. [Read more 🡒]
Mavericks Frontcourt Problem Is Suddenly Becoming A Real Advantage
What looked like a preseason concern for Dallas has started to look like a roster strength, with the backup point guard spot and the frontcourt both holding up better than expected. Contributions from Walter Clayton Jr., Naji Marshall and Daniel Gafford have helped steady the rotation, while coach Dusty May has gotten the kind of defensive buy-in that can change the tone of a team early in the season.
The bigger development is how that depth is shaping the Mavericks identity on that end of the floor. Dallas has been more versatile with its lineups and has been able to keep energy on the court, with the frontcourt group giving the staff more ways to mix and match without losing physicality. For a team that entered the year with questions in those areas, the early returns have been encouraging, even if the full ceiling of this group is still unfolding. [Read more 🡒]
Naji Marshall Is Giving The Mavericks Exactly What They Needed
Naji Marshalls start with the Mavericks has been uneven, with illness costing him three games and his shot not falling the way Dallas hoped early on. Even so, the fit is starting to make more sense as he settles into a role that asks less of him as a scorer and more of him as a connector, defender and all-around stabilizer.
Marshall has looked more comfortable leaning into the parts of his game that can help the Mavericks right away, especially when it comes to creating for others and disrupting plays on the defensive end. Through nine contests, the broader numbers reflect that shift, and Dallas has reason to keep leaning into a version of Marshall that can impact winning even when the offense is not fully there. [Read more 🡒]