Clippers Notes: Paul, Rivers, Griffin
J.J. Redick said Chris Paul‘s “spirits are good” after undergoing thumb surgery today, relays Broderick Turner of The Los Angeles Times. Paul is expected to be out of action for six to eight weeks with the injury that he suffered Monday against the Thunder. The Clippers are hoping to get Blake Griffin back soon from minor knee surgery in December, and coach Doc Rivers said he will adjust the rotation until everyone is healthy. “We still have new guys — Alan [Anderson] is new and Raymond [Felton] is new and Mo [Marreese Speights] and Brandon [Bass],” Rivers said. “This is a good opportunity for them to learn how to execute together. When everyone is back, when you get Chris and Blake back, if this group can execute … I think it makes us better in the long run. This is not the way you want to do it, but this is the way it’s been presented.”
There’s more Clippers news from Los Angeles:
- Rivers, who also serves as president of basketball operations, said the team may consider some roster moves to help ease the loss of Paul, Turner adds in the same story. L.A. has four healthy guards right now and three of them — Redick, Felton and Austin Rivers — are starters. “We can’t always do something,” Rivers said about a potential move. “But we always look.”
- Paul’s injury could doom the last shot at playoff success for this current group of Clippers, writes Chris Mannix of The Vertical. L.A. is fourth in the West at 29-14, but could easily fall behind Utah, Oklahoma City and Memphis while Paul is sidelined. That would mean a first-round series without home court advantage. If the Clippers are bounced from the playoffs early again, they may decide not to keep both Paul and Griffin, who can both become free agents this summer. Re-signing them would push the team payroll to around $150MM, plus about $100MM in luxury tax penalties. Mannix notes that Rivers may not want to coach a rebuilding team, something he wasn’t willing to do in Boston, especially with the Clippers not having first-round picks this year or in 2019.
- The loss of Paul probably kills any chance of a Griffin trade, according to Mitch Lawrence of Forbes.
Central Notes: Terry, Korver, Bulls, I. Smith
Jason Terry is comfortable playing the elder statesman role on a young Bucks team, writes Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. After two years in Houston, the 39-year-old guard signed with Milwaukee in August. He is averaging just 17.6 minutes and 3.3 points per game, but he likes the chance to help young players learn the game. “No question, I’m enjoying my role,” Terry said. “What this organization and this coaching staff is creating is about teaching. When you have two young great superstars [Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jabari Parker], they understand they need to surround them with veteran guys like myself. It’s been great.”
There’s more from the Central Division:
- The Cavaliers are just 1-3 since trading for Kyle Korver, but the veteran shooter believes he and the team are adjusting to each other, according to Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com. The Cavs just returned from a long road trip, giving Korver his first chance to get a taste of life in his new home. “It’s great to have a practice here in Cleveland,” he said. “… The more time we spend together, the better chemistry we’re going to have. A lot of what my game is based on chemistry. Getting a good feel for the guys, me getting a feel for them, them getting a feel for me and how I play. Every day gets a little better.”
- Injuries and illnesses are juggling the Bulls‘ rotation and hampering player development, writes K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune. Denzel Valentine, Jerian Grant and Paul Zipser have all been in and out of the lineup recently as coach Fred Hoiberg tries to find healthy and effective combinations. “We have so many young guys and all of them at some point over the course of the year have given us good minutes,” Hoiberg said. “… It’s something that we’ll continue to juggle until we find the right group. It’s unfortunate. Denzel has had some good moments and then has had a setback on a couple of different moments.”
- Pistons point guard Ish Smith did his best to keep a team-first attitude when he learned of his brief benching last week, relays Rod Beard of The Detroit News. Smith, who was the starter for the season’s first 21 games while Reggie Jackson was injured, had appeared in all 41 before coach Stan Van Gundy told him he wouldn’t be playing. Van Gundy compared it to a baseball manager giving a slumping player a game off. “In shootaround, I wasn’t happy at all when he told me,” Smith said. “That was the decision he made and when I talked to my mother and my family, they said, ‘Get your head out of your behind and be a good teammate.’”
Porzingis, Noah To Have MRIs On Thursday
Kristaps Porzingis and Joakim Noah will both undergo MRIs on Thursday to determine the extent of nagging injuries, writes Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com.
Porzingis missed his fourth straight game tonight with an Achilles problem, while Noah was sidelined by a sprained ankle. Porzingis is confident in his health, saying he is “90% ready.” He also dismissed the idea of sitting out long-term to rest the injury.
“Never felt that bad to actually take some time off,” he said. “I thought I would be [back] like next game, next game and it has taken long, longer time than we expected. … [Doctors] want to be smart about it and have me tell them exactly how I feel, not hide it a little bit and say, ‘Oh, I’m good.'”
Noah said his ankle was all right during Monday’s game, but began to swell during Tuesday’s flight to Boston. His availability for Thursday’s game against the Wizards may depend on the results of the MRI.
“I hope it’s going to be OK,” Noah said. “I mean, it is what it is. I wish I could be there with my teammates right now. We’re struggling. I want to be out there, be part of the solution.”
Southeast Notes: Heat, Neal, Hornets, House
The Heat have been granted a $1.3 million salary-cap exception, writes Ira Winderman of The Sun Sentinel. The exception can be used through March 10 to sign a single player whose contract expires at the end of the season. The amount is half the salary for Justise Winslow, who underwent season-ending shoulder surgery earlier this month. The Heat would have to open a spot to use the exception because they have a full roster after signing Okaro White on Tuesday.
There’s more out of the Southeast Division:
- Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer said his familiarity with Gary Neal played a role in the team’s decision to sign the veteran guard to a 10-day contract, relays Chris Vivlamore of The Atlanta Journal Constitution. Budenholzer was an assistant with the Spurs when Neal played for San Antonio from 2010-13. “I have a great comfort level and confidence in Gary,” the coach said. “His ability to shoot and make shots and be a weapon coming off the bench in big games. He is a competitive guy, a smart guy.” Budenholzer plans to use Neal primarily as a third point guard.
- The Hornets will have to make roster changes to have a shot making a playoff run, contends Tom Sorensen of The Charlotte Observer. He argues that Michael Kidd-Gilchrist isn’t the same player he was before his injury and says the Hornets need to acquire another scorer to take the late-game load off Kemba Walker.
- Wizards rookie Danuel House had a CT scan on his right wrist today, tweets J. Michael of CSNMidAtlantic. The undrafted shooting guard out of Texas A&M has played just one game this season and will probably be sent to the D-League when he does return. House has just a $100K guarantee on his $905,249 salary for next season.
Ben Simmons May Be Ready After All-Star Game
Sixers rookie Ben Simmons could be ready for his first NBA game right after the All-Star break, according to Chris Haynes of ESPN.com.
A source tells Haynes that the No. 1 pick in the 2016 draft has a chance to be on the court by late February if there are no more setbacks in his rehab from foot surgery. Simmons fractured the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot in training camp, and the Sixers are being careful about rushing his recovery. Sources say Simmons’ foot has completely healed, but there is still a chance he could be held out for the rest of the season as a precaution.
At this stage of rehab, Simmons is working on his conditioning and stamina. He participated in five-on-five drills for the first time last week, and the Sixers are handling his eventual return in a “cautionary, delicate fashion,” according to Haynes.
Atlantic Notes: Simmons, Zizic, Vasquez
Sixers coach Brett Brown quashed speculation that rookie Ben Simmons might play his first game January 27th, writes Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. Philadelphia’s contest against the Rockets on that date was recently added to ESPN’s national television schedule. A picture of Simmons appeared on Instagram not long after, leading many to believe it was more than a coincidence. But Brown said today that Simmons, who hasn’t played since suffering a fractured bone in his right foot in October, definitely won’t be ready by then. “I am a social hermit,” Brown said when a reporter asked about the possibility. “I have no idea what you are talking about. But I do know there is no chance that he will play then.”
There’s more news from the Atlantic Division:
- It’s still not definite that Simmons will be able to return this season, tweets Michael Scotto of Basketball Insiders. An unidentified source told Scotto, “Everyone needs to hold their horses and hope he plays at all.”
- Celtics draft-and-stash prospect Ante Zizic is ready to try the NBA next season, relays Bugra Uzar of Eurohoops. The 6’11” center is playing for Darussafaka Dogus in Istanbul after being taken with the 23rd pick in the 2016 draft. Zizic is getting an education in the NBA game from former Cavaliers coach David Blatt, who now runs Darussafaka. “I want to prepare for the NBA,” Zizic said. “Because this summer I’m going to the NBA for sure. I think that the best preparation for the NBA is playing at the highest possible level. And EuroLeague provides that.”
- Signing Greivis Vasquez was the first mistake by new Nets GM Sean Marks, writes John Schuhmann of NBA.com. Brooklyn gave the 30-year-old point guard a guaranteed $4,347,826 for one season even though he wasn’t completely healed from ankle surgery. Vasquez played just three games for the Nets before being waived November 9th.
Jared Sullinger Will Make Raptors Debut Tonight
Free agent addition Jared Sullinger will play his first game for the Raptors tonight in Philadelphia, according to Raptors Media Relations (Twitter link). His minutes will be limited as he works his way back from foot surgery.
After four seasons in Boston, Sullinger signed a one-year, $5.628MM deal with Toronto in July. He was expected to be the team’s starting power forward, but had to undergo surgery on his left foot in October after it was stepped on in the Raptors’ first preseason game.
The 21st pick in the 2012 draft, Sullinger worked his way up to starter status with the Celtics. He averaged 10.3 points and 8.3 rebounds in 81 games last season.
Ben Gordon To Join D-League
Ben Gordon has signed a D-League contract, according to Adam Johnson of D-League Digest (Twitter link). Gordon will be placed on waivers, per D-League rules, and the Windy City Bulls, Chicago’s affiliate, currently own the top waiver order spot.
The Bulls selected Gordon with the No. 3 overall pick in 2004 and he played five seasons with the franchise before signing a lucrative five-year deal with the Pistons during the summer of 2009. He was traded to Charlotte halfway through that deal, and the team waived him before he was able to finish the contract.
The 33-year-old Gordon last played in the NBA for the Magic during the 2014/15 season. He’s a career 40.1% shooter from behind the arc and he could look use the D-League as a path toward returning to the NBA, as Gary Neal just did.
Carmelo Anthony On His Future With The Knicks
Carmelo Anthony said the conversation between him and Phil Jackson “wasn’t that long,” as Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com relays. “We didn’t break bread. We didn’t have an hour’s conversation. It was a short conversation.”
Anthony previously said he wants to remain with the Knicks and he reiterated that desire today. “I’m committed [to staying]. I don’t have to prove that to anybody,” Anthony exclaimed “I don’t think I have to keep saying that. I don’t think I have to keep talking about that. I know for a fact that people see that.”
The soon-to-be 10-time All-Star never thought it would get to the point where he and Jackson would have to sit down and talk about his future with the team. He added that he’s happy he has a no-trade clause in his contract.
“I think, as players, you always want to protect yourself,” Anthony said. “I didn’t think it would get to this point. I think, as a player, if you can get that [no-trade clause], you have a right to protect yourself and take care of yourself when it comes to that. It’s very hard to get, very difficult to get. I have it and that’s that.”
Anthony said he is “numb” to the drama that follows him this season. “That [George Karl] situation, we all know what that was about. He was trying to sell something. In this situation you almost have to pay a little bit closer attention to it because you have to deal with it on a day-to-day basis,” he added. “Other than [that], I’m fine, man. I’m good mentally. I’m good. Trust me.”
The Knicks have won just two of their last 13 games. They will take on the Celtics tonight.
Hawks Sign Gary Neal To 10-Day Contract
3:25pm: The signing is official, according to Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (Twitter link).
9:08am: The Hawks will sign Gary Neal to a 10-day contract, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of The Vertical. Atlanta will open up a roster spot by trading Mo Williams to the Nuggets.
Marc Stein of ESPN reported over the weekend that the team was “strongly leaning” toward signing the shooting guard. The 32-year-old previously played under coach Mike Budenholzer when Budenholzer was an assistant in San Antonio.
Neal has been playing for the Texas Legends, the D-League affiliate of the Mavericks. He’s played for five teams over his six-year NBA career, including the Wizards last season.