Wade Working Out In Hopes Of Playoff Return
Dwyane Wade is making an effort to be ready if the Bulls reach the postseason, writes K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune.
Wade, who has a small fracture in his right elbow, has been shooting and participating in non-contact drills, coach Fred Hoiberg told reporters today. However, he cautioned that it’s too early to tell if Wade might receive medical clearance.
“He got a really good sweat in [today],” Hoiberg said. “Just continue to try to increase his workload and hopefully he responds well. He just has a little bit of soreness and stiffness after [shooting], but they want him out there testing it. It’s a work in progress.
“He’s a true pro. He’s working every day. He’s in the weight room, he’s on the treadmill, he’s doing everything that he possibly can. And again, he’s upping his activity on the basketball court. That’s a good sign.”
It has been two weeks since Wade suffered the injury, which will sideline him for the rest of the regular season. The team has gone 3-3 without him and remains in a tight Eastern Conference playoff race, just one game behind eighth-place Miami coming into tonight.
Wade’s teammates are confident the 35-year-old can be ready if they secure a postseason spot.
“We truly believe that,” Nikola Mirotic said. “We see him every morning working, stretching, doing his treatments, sweating. You can see that he really wants to get back, too. It’s important.”
Southeast Notes: Mahinmi, Ibaka, Ross, Ilyasova
Ian Mahinmi‘s return from injury has brought a defensive presence to the Wizards‘ bench, writes J. Michael of CSNMidAtlantic. He controlled the lane in the fourth quarter of Tuesday’s comeback win over the Lakers, as L.A. shot just 5-of-21 in the final 12 minutes. Problems with both knees limited Mahinmi to just five games before the All-Star break, but he has played 19 since then and has shown why Washington was willing to give him a four-year, $64MM contract last summer. “He’s a great defender,” said teammate Kelly Oubre. “He’s what we’ve been missing in the paint. I can’t wait until he’s dunking on people like he used to.”
There’s more news from the Southeast Division:
- Serge Ibaka wanted to be used more often at center during his time with the Magic, relays Josh Robbins of The Orlando Sentinel. Ibaka, who was acquired from Oklahoma City last summer and dealt to Toronto after 57 games, said he approached coach Frank Vogel about using him at the five spot in a small-ball lineup. The problem was that the Magic already had centers Nikola Vucevic and Bismack Biyombo in their rotation. Even though he’s with a playoff team now, Ibaka is disappointed that things didn’t work out better in Orlando. “I remember in the beginning, I was so excited,” he said. “Even mentally I was so fresh and excited about the season. But in life sometimes the way we try to do things, or the way we think things can go, may not happen. That’s the case out there in Orlando. But I had good moments there.”
- Terrence Ross, who was sent to the Magic in that deal, got a friendly reception from the fans Monday in his return to Toronto, according to Mike Ganter of The Toronto Sun. The 26-year-old swingman spent four and a half seasons with the Raptors.
- Ersan Ilyasova was both surprised and not surprised to be traded from the Sixers to the Hawks at the deadline, tweets Jessica Camerato of CSNPhilly. He thought he fit well in Philadelphia, but adds that he understands the business side of basketball. Ilyasova has been with six teams since the 2014/15 season and will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
Jarell Eddie Gets Second 10-Day Deal From Suns
The Suns have signed swingman Jarell Eddie to a second 10-day contract, the team announced on its website.
Eddie, who originally signed with the Suns March 19th, has appeared in five games, averaging 4.8 points in 12.5 minutes per night. He posted a career best 13 points in a March 19th game against the Pistons.
The Suns are the third NBA opportunity for Eddie, who played 26 games last season for the Wizards and signed a 10-day deal with the Hawks in 2015 but didn’t see any game action. He has spent most of the past three years in the D-League, and played for Windy City before coming to Phoenix.
The contract Eddie signed today will run through April 7th. The Suns will have two games remaining after that and must decide whether to release him or give him a longer deal.
And-Ones: BIG3, Francis, Coaching Candidates
The BIG3 basketball league, which will make its debut in less than three months, continues to add notable former NBA players to its ranks. According to a press release from the league, former star guard Steve Francis headlines the latest round of additions to the draft pool, along with Kendall Gill, DeShawn Stevenson, Joe Smith, Hakim Warrick, and others.
Meanwhile, one of Francis’ teammates from their Rockets days will be a co-captain on a new team called Power, per a press release. According to the announcement, Cuttino Mobley is joining forces with Corey Maggette on the club, which is one of seven to be confirmed so far. When BIG3 games get underway this June, the league will feature eight teams.
Here are a few more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- In a piece for ESPN.com, Kevin Arnovitz identifies five head coaching prospects to watch, including Raptors 905 coach Jerry Stackhouse, Hawks assistant Darvin Ham, and TNT analyst Brent Barry.
- Speaking of future head coaches, commissioner Adam Silver believes a woman will coach an NBA team at some point, and wouldn’t mind seeing it happen sooner rather than later, as Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.com outlines. Spurs assistant Becky Hammon is currently viewed as the top candidate to break that barrier.
- Silver got involved last week in the league-wide debate over resting healthy players, calling it a “significant issue” and suggesting that there will be penalties for teams who don’t provide sufficient notice when resting stars. In the view of Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, Silver’s involvement in the issue could create a “slippery slope” that contributes to undermining relationships around the NBA. Michael C. Wright of ESPN.com has the details, including the quotes from Popovich.
- An ESPN.com panel is ranking each of the NBA’s front offices, assigning grades to each club’s coach, GM, and owner. The full list can be found right here, from the Spurs at No. 1 to the Knicks at No. 30.
Central Notes: Jackson, Pistons, Rondo, Mirotic
The Pistons are reportedly considering shutting down Reggie Jackson for the rest of the season, and if it happens, it would be the end to an extremely disappointing 2016/17 campaign for the team’s starting point guard. Jackson, who got off to a late start this season due to a knee injury, admits that he has felt like “a shell” of himself at times, per Aaron McMann of MLive.com.
“I wasn’t quite the same, and that’s something the organization saw, and I think they want to take care of it,” Jackson said. “Myself, like I said, it was a wall that I kept hitting, and it was one I was going to find a way to run through. … It’s tough. It’s very tough. It’s annoying, it’s frustrating. You know you’re better than what you’re putting out there on the court.”
As Detroit continues to compete for a playoff spot – without Jackson in the lineup for now – let’s round up a few more notes out of the division…
- Even if the Pistons sneak into the playoffs, it has been a very disappointing season in Detroit, and major changes could be on the way this summer. As David Mayo of MLive.com writes, everything will be considered and everyone will be evaluated by the Pistons.
- There were times this season when Rajon Rondo and Nikola Mirotic found themselves on the outs in the Bulls‘ rotation, but they’re playing some of their best ball of the season as of late, writes Sam Smith of Bulls.com. Rondo has a partially guaranteed salary for 2017/18, while Mirotic will be a restricted free agent, so both players are increasing their value at the right time.
- Magic head coach Frank Vogel “really wants” veteran power forward David West to come and join his coaching staff whenever West retires as a player, tweets ESPN’s Zach Lowe. A 14-year veteran, West is playing a career-low 12.1 minutes per game this season, so Vogel may soon get an opportunity to hire him. The duo spent a few years together in Indiana when Vogel was coaching the Pacers.
- With the postseason around the corner, Tyronn Lue is facing his toughest challenge since taking over as the Cavaliers‘ head coach. Terry Pluto of The Cleveland Plain Dealer explains.
Pelicans Re-Sign Quinn Cook
4:01pm: The Pelicans have signed Cook to a second 10-day contract, the team confirmed today (via Twitter).
10:52am: Quinn Cook‘s first 10-day contract with the Pelicans expired overnight, but the rookie guard will receive a second 10-day deal from the team, according to Chris Haynes of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Assuming the new contract is finalized before tonight’s game against Dallas, it will expire at the end of day on April 7.
Cook, who turned 24 last Thursday, made his NBA debut last month with the Mavericks, but wasn’t retained by Dallas and eventually made his way back to the Pelicans. The former Duke Blue Devil spent training camp and the preseason with New Orleans last fall, though he didn’t initially make the cut for the team’s regular season roster.
In his latest stint with the Pelicans, Cook’s playing time has been limited — he has averaged 1.0 PPG and 0.7 APG in three games (2.7 MPG) for New Orleans. Cook’s numbers in five games with Dallas were a little better (5.4 PPG, 2.4 APG), and he excelled in D-League play earlier this season, averaging 26.0 PPG and 6.7 APG in 39 contests for the Canton Charge.
Once Cook’s second 10-day deal with New Orleans expires, the club will have to decide whether to retain him for the rest of the season. The Pelicans also continue to carry an open spot on their 15-man roster, so they have the flexibility to add another new player at some point down the stretch.
NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 3/29/17
Here are Wednesday’s D-League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
- Point guard Cameron Payne is back with the Bulls, having been recalled from the D-League following Windy City’s win on Tuesday, the club announced today in a press release. Payne was instrumental in last night’s win, scoring a team-high 20 points to go along with nine assists, five rebounds, and five steals.
- The Rockets have sent Troy Williams and Isaiah Taylor to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, according to Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle, who notes (via Twitter) that rookie big man Chinanu Onuaku will stay on the NBA roster to start the team’s road trip.
- The Raptors have recalled Bruno Caboclo and Pascal Siakam from their D-League affiliate, the team announced today (via Twitter). Neither the Raptors nor the Raptors 905 are in action until Thursday, so we’ll see if the duo sticks with the NBA club for that game.
Draft Updates: Eubanks, Trimble, Simmons
Oregon State center Drew Eubanks has decided to enter his name into the 2017 draft pool, according to Shams Charania of The Vertical. A sophomore who is ranked 90th on Jonathan Givony’s big board at DraftExpress, Eubanks is keeping his options open by not hiring an agent, so it’s possible he’ll return to school for his junior year. He’ll have until May 24 to weigh his options and decide whether or not to withdraw.
Meanwhile, Eubanks’ teammate, sophomore shooting guard Stephen Thompson, will also test the draft waters, per Jeff Goodman of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Thompson ranks 75th on DraftExpress’ list of top sophomores, 54 spots behind Eubanks, so it would be a surprise if he doesn’t eventually withdraw his name and return to Oregon State for the 2017/18 season.
Here are a few more draft decisions worth noting:
- Maryland junior point guard Melo Trimble has decided to enter the draft and will forgo his remaining NCAA eligibility by hiring an agent, per Jeff Ermann of 247Sports.com. Trimble tested the waters a year ago, but has decided to go pro this year. He’s ranked 92nd on the DraftExpress big board.
- Ohio guard Jaaron Simmons announced this week that he intends to enter the 2017 draft, according to a press release from the school. The 22-year-old point guard won’t hire an agent, giving him a chance to withdraw later and return to Ohio for his senior year.
- Providence forward Rodney Bullock will declare for the draft without hiring an agent, Goodman reports (via Twitter). Bullock, a junior, averaged 15.7 PPG and 6.4 RPG in 33 games this past season.
- LIU Brooklyn freshman Jashaun Agosto announced on Twitter that he’s declaring for the 2017 draft. The 5’11” guard isn’t expected to be drafted.
Warriors Issue Health Update On Kevin Durant
The Warriors have made an announcement regarding Kevin Durant‘s recovery from the knee injury that has sidelined him for the last four weeks, confirming that a return to game action prior to the end of the regular season is still in play (Twitter link).
[RELATED: Warriors optimistic Durant can return before playoffs]
According to the team, Durant has made “very good progress” and hasn’t experienced any setbacks. He’s participating in non-contact basketball drills and the team’s plan is to intensify his “level of movement” over the next few days. The Warriors says their star forward will be re-evaluated in about seven to 10 days, at which point he may be nearing a return.
It has been four weeks since the Warriors announced Durant suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain and a tibial bone bruise. Golden State lost five of its first seven games after Durant went down, but have rebounded in a major way since then — the club is currently on an eight-game win streak.
Although the Warriors likely won’t need Durant to lock up the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, it would still be a great sign for his chances of making a major impact in the playoffs if he can get back on the court for at least a couple regular season contests in April. ESPN’s Marc Stein, who reported last week that Durant could return before the playoffs, tweets that the most likely comeback window is during the Dubs’ final three home games.
Durant may be on a minutes restriction when he gets back in the lineup, as we heard over the weekend.
Edmond Sumner Enters 2017 NBA Draft
Xavier point guard Edmond Sumner has decided to enter the 2017 NBA draft, he announced this week on Twitter. Sumner is a sophomore, so he could test the waters and withdraw his name by May’s deadline, but his statement makes it sound as if he’s committed to going pro this year.
“After weighing my options with my family, I have decided to enter the 2017 NBA draft, fulfilling a lifelong dream,” Sumner said, noting that the decision was a difficult one because of his love for Xavier. “I want to thank Coach Mack and the rest of the staff for believing in me and giving me a chance when no one did! I’ll always be grateful for that.”
[RELATED: 2017 NBA draft early entrants list]
Sumner, 21, enjoyed a breakout year in 2016/17, averaging 14.3 PPG, 4.8 APG, and 4.2 RPG, while shooting a career-best 47.9% from the field. However, his season was cut short by a torn ACL, which he suffered in January.
The injury will complicate Sumner’s draft stock somewhat this June. Experts consider him a potential second-round pick, but it’s possible he won’t be drafted if teams are at all concerned about his knee.
DraftExpress views Sumner as the 10th-best prospect among sophomores, penciling him in as a borderline first-round pick in the 2018 draft. Meanwhile, the 6’5″ guard ranks 68th on Chad Ford’s top 100 list at ESPN.com.