Tim Hardaway Jr. has been improving his free agent stock with some high-level offensive performances in recent games. The Mavericks guard erupted for 42 points against Detroit last week and tore up Miami’s defense for 36 points on Wednesday, Callie Caplan of the Dallas Morning News notes. He drained a franchise record-tying 10 three-pointers against the Heat. “When you have been hot like that, had it going, you’re not really focused on any records or anything like that,” said Hardaway, who will be an unrestricted free agent after this season. “The game was just coming to me.”
We have more from the Southwest Division:
- Pelicans guard Lonzo Ball tied his career best with 33 points against Golden State on Tuesday, bouncing back from a 3-for-18 shooting performance the previous game. He vowed to franchise player Zion Williamson in a text message that he wouldn’t have two bad outings in a row, according to ESPN’s Andrew Lopez. “I’m glad he’s my teammate,” Williamson said. “You love to have teammates like that can say stuff like that and come the next day and show out. He just wants to win.” Williamson’s “love” for Ball could be a factor in how aggressive the franchise is willing to be in retaining the point guard as a restricted free agent this summer.
- The Rockets, who already have numerous players sitting out, added another one to the inactive list when forward Jae’Sean Tate was placed under the league’s health and safety protocols, according to Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle. The undrafted rookie has appeared in 65 games, including 53 starts, averaging 11.2 PPG and 5.4 RPG.
- Didi Louzada has finally completed the work visa process and joined the Pelicans, Will Guillory of The Athletic tweets. New Orleans officially signed the draft-and-stash prospect on April 27. The Brazilian signed a multiyear contract after playing in Australia this season. He’ll be available to play on Friday, Lopez tweets.
- Kristaps Porzingis is making progress from his sore right knee and Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle expects him to return before the postseason, Tim MacMahon of ESPN tweets. “I anticipate that he will play regular-season games at some point, but I don’t know when,” Carlisle said. The big man has been out since April 29.
Houston has an unimaginable 13 players on the injured list for tomorrow night’s game at Milwaukee, this has to be a record. The Rockets have used a 7-man rotation in two of their last six games. They have four players not on the injured list and four other players listed as questionable. Plus they just signed Khyri Thomas to a 10-day contract, presumably with a hardship exception. We’ll see who plays on Friday.
Neither Wally or Wood is injured
I’d say they have tank injury
Total disaster of a franchise, probably won’t be back to playoff also ran status for another 3-4 seasons
That’s what they used to say about the knicks…
Pelicans are obviously going to make Ball an RFA.
The question is, do they sign and trade him, or decide to match?
Honestly, I think it comes down to how they view Zion going forward. If they really want to go all in on Zion as point forward and aren’t going to value a point guard it will change how they build around him.
wouldn’t they have to match to sign him?
Yes but Pelicans can offer the most money so if someone’s enamored by him at that rate they can get a small piece of value for him while Ball makes more money
Think Black Aces has it right here tho…NO needs to do some soul searching and quick