Lingering problems with his ankles this winter led Warriors rookie Jordan Bell to consider sitting out the rest of the season, according to Mark Medina of The San Jose Mercury News. As he rehabbed from a left ankle injury that kept him out for 14 games in January and February, Bell shared his concerns with his high school coach, who responded that he had “time to heal.” Bell sent another text message after rolling his right ankle in late March.
“It was me being mad and irritated and spur of the moment. I was so frustrated. It kept reoccurring,” Bell recalled. “I thought maybe I should let it go fully and let it get back to 100 percent.”
Bell’s ankles are fully healed, but he hasn’t regained the role he had before the injuries. He sat out three of Golden State’s playoff games and averaged just 4.9 minutes a night in the postseason. He may be used more frequently in the conference finals as the Warriors try to match up with the Rockets’ smaller, quicker front line.
There’s more from the Pacific Division:
- David West and Chris Paul, who starred as teammates in New Orleans a decade ago, will square off for the Western Conference title, notes Logan Murdock of The San Jose Mercury News. They spent seven seasons together before West signed with the Pacers and Paul was traded to the Clippers. “Who knows what that team would’ve done had we stayed together,” West said. “It was a good run. It was really like a starting point for both of us in our careers.”
- The Suns will enter Tuesday night’s lottery with the best chance of winning the top pick, but they’ll have plenty of good options if that doesn’t happen, notes Luke Lapinski of Arizona Sports 98.7. Phoenix has a history of disappointment in the lottery, but Lapinski sees DeAndre Ayton, Luka Doncic and Marvin Bagley III as high-level talents at the top three spots.
- Los Angeles native Chimezie Metu called it a “dream come true” to work out for the Lakers this week, relays Bill Oram of the Orange County Register. Metu, who made the All-Pac 12 first team at USC, is projected as a mid second-rounder and could be on the board when L.A. picks at No. 47. “I’m probably going to have a lot more workouts,” he said, “but this is probably going to be my favorite one or one I’m going to cherish a lot more because of the history.”
I don’t understand why the Suns would draft Doncic if Booker is their shooting guard. Where do they plan on plugging him? He can’t play the 3, and I don’t see him as a point guard. No way am I starting Doncic over Josh, no way.
Positionless basketball buddy.
They could start Doncic, Booker, and Jackson together and have Doncic and Booker alternate as primary ball-handlers. Defensively, the line up would be garbage, especially with Chriss in the frontcourt, but it might be interesting offensively.
Anton and Bagley III would be better picks for them imo
Or they could just move the pick for Westbrook and skip on re-signing Booker. Run Josh at the 2-3 with Russ and sign Cousins.
Westbrook-Jackson-Warren-Chriss-Cousins
How do you convince somebody to play for the Suns? Like if you draft them they have no choice but I doubt Cousins is going to want to go to the Suns after all those losing years in Sacramento.
What’s wrong with the Suns? Why wouldn’t he want to bring back alive what Steve Nash had atop the NBA 10 years ago? Plus get to do it with Russell Westbrook and a rising star in Josh Jackson? He’d definitely consider it.
Westbrook plays for one person and that’s Westbrook. He is another “Starbury”.
None of those guys will be there at #4 for the Suns. God hates the Phoenix Suns.
Not the Egyptian god… they worship the Sun.
The NBA commissioner hates the Suns. Once again if you are Boston, New York , LA they somehow will miraculously vault over the Suns and get the pick.