Magic guard R.J. Hampton is expected to be in uniform on Friday, Dan Savage of the team’s website reports. Hampton missed the last 14 games due to an MCL sprain and bone bruise in his left knee. He got through back-to-back full contact practices on Wednesday and Thursday without any issues.
“It felt very good to get back on the court with the guys,” Hampton said. “I’ve missed doing what I love for the last month.”
We have more from the Southeast Division:
- The Hawks should go all-in to acquire Zion Williamson this offseason if the Pelicans make him available and the medical records come back clean, Chris Kirschner of The Athletic argues. Despite some red flags regarding Williamson, he can be as dominant as Joel Embiid if he overcomes his injury and conditioning issues, says Kirschner, citing Williamson’s stats and advanced metrics from last season.
- Javonte Smart‘s two-way contract with the Heat is a two-year deal, Keith Smith of Spotrac tweets. The rookie guard signed with Miami on February 15th.
- Hawks forward John Collins missed Thursday’s game due to a right foot strain, Sarah Spencer of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweets. Collins hasn’t played since February 11. He’s averaging 16.8 PPG and 7.9 RPG after signing a five-year, $125MM contract.
The Hawks will look totally different next year, Zion or not. This is a content, lazy, squad.
It’ll never happen but I wish the rockets could get capella back.
Yep. Called it after the first few weeks. The team has talent and they’ve had to deal with some injuries to a number of guys this season, but they let last year’s playoff run get in their heads a bit too much. A LOT of things had to go right for them to make it to the ECF last year
ZW’s medical problems go beyond medical “red flags”. But the best thing for him is to move to the perimeter where the pressure would be to be quick, not heavy.
(The Hawks already have their entrenched star there.)
FYI the article repeats the HR article except pointing out that critic Reddik is also a) Duke, b) CAA, &c) not likely a Griffen fan.
I have accused Griffen of being mean but mean would be trading ZW to a team that will stick him low just bc he is big and fans want to be awed.
Zion should be hearing the word “morbidly” a lot
He can’t move to the perimeter, he doesn’t have the basketball IQ to do so. the only use for him is in the paint like a fat undersized forward
Get over yourself, dude!
Basketball IQ is the one thing that Zion has bucketful’s of, maybe watch the man play & don’t pay so much attention to talking heads or fans, who usually know nothing at all!
Says the guy who thinks Wiggins regressed in GSW, while he’s named to the ASG. My god you must be like 13 years old.
Zion’s buckets are only full of wings and thighs
If that’s the case ZW is not useful anywhere and the point is mute. By playing on the perimeter, it will help to slim him down and be a player.
He is as smart as anyone else. He brings the ball up, the team has him engaged— how any team wants him.
For ATL that would conflict with Tre Young. Likely ZW nust balloons again. Why give up assets for that?
It’s just that he’s not fat because he’s playing in the paint, he’s simply playing in the paint because he’s fat.
His height is best suited for a SF but we see people play PG just fine. However there’s no such thing a a fat PG or a fat wing. You can only play in the paint as a fat undersized PF.
His physique shows he’s not smart, if we was we would know that the strain on he’s knees will ruin his career.
Zion makes a ton of sense for the hawks.
They need a second star to go with Trae cause John Collins just isn’t good enough and Hunter has potential but is always injured.
With Trae and Zion you’ve got two elite talents, one an amazing shooter and the other a great slasher. Two future top 10 players that you can then build around. Trae and Zion as a duo would be better than the Celtics with Tatum and Brown, younger than the Sixers with Embiid and Harden, more exciting and potential than the Raptors guys. Nets are old guys, Heat have Bam and Herro but the rest are older guys.
Setting yourselves up with these two would be huge for the future