Atlantic Notes: Irving, Schroder, McCollum, Raptors

Would Kyrie Irving be willing to receive a plant-based COVID-19 vaccine when it’s approved? That might sway him, people close to the enigmatic Nets guard told Mark Sanchez of the New York Post. Irving is a vegan, Sanchez notes, and plant-based vaccines are being tested, including one from a Canadian biotech company that is going through clinical trials.

It’s uncertain when such vaccines would be approved in the U.S. Nets head coach Steve Nash has not talked with Irving about a possible plant-based option. “If we get the gift of his return, we’ll be ecstatic, but we can’t count on it,” Nash said.

We have more from the Atlantic Division:

  • Dennis Schroder has provided a jolt to the Celtics’ offense with his speed and isolation ability, Jared Weiss of The Athletic writes. Schroder has averaged 17.9 PPG and 4.9 APG while starting 14 of 23 games. Schroder is thus far pumping up his value after settling for a one-year, $5.9MM contract during a disappointing foray into free agency over the summer.
  • Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard is reportedly lobbying for the acquisition of Ben Simmons with CJ McCollum potentially being the most prominent player coming back to the Sixers. PhillyVoice’s Kyle Neubeck doesn’t see McCollum as the impact player the Sixers are seeking for Simmons. While McCollum would boost the offense, he is in the first year of a three-year, $100MM contract. It’s a high price tag for a player who doesn’t produce at an elite level and wouldn’t help the Sixers defensively, and the money he’s making would make him difficult to trade.
  • The Raptors have held Milwaukee to 93 points and Washington to 90 while recording back-to-back victories. Coach Nick Nurse is pleased by the team’s defensive improvement, Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca writes. “We were really connected,” Nurse said after the Wizards’ game. “Just not a whole lot of mistakes and most of the shots had somebody in front of them, one way or another and it’s good to see.”
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