Kevin Love won’t return to Cleveland to face his former team on Wednesday. He’s listed as out for personal reasons, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald tweets. It would have been Love’s first game in Cleveland since he was bought out last season.
Prior to that announcement, Love told Chiang and other media members he was looking forward to the trip. The veteran Heat big man also indicated it took awhile to adjust to his new surroundings. “I think at first, it was a bumpy transition. I think it is with anybody trying to find their place in a new organization, especially after eight-and-a-half years there. But I definitely feel like this has been a great landing spot for me,” he said.
We have more from the Southeast Division:
- With Miles Bridges back in the lineup on Monday, P.J. Washington came off the bench for the first time since the 2021/22 season. However, it didn’t come as a surprise. Hornets coach Steve Clifford and Washington had been discussing the possibility for awhile. Washington will continue to get a steady diet of minutes. “PJ and I have been talking about this ever since Miles came back. So, he’s still going to play,” Clifford told Roderick Boone of the Charlotte Observer. “His minutes won’t change. PJ will play just as many minutes as he was before, but we have to get to playing groups like we were talking about before the game. And so they’re going to play together, too. PJ is all about the team. He’s extremely team-oriented. He grew up in a basketball family. He has no problems with it, and again, this has been something that’s been discussed since Miles came back.”
- Wizards center Daniel Gafford has started a majority of the games he’s appeared in the past two seasons but this is the first season he’s the unquestioned starter. Gafford is enjoying that comfort zone while playing a career-high 24.1 minutes per game, he told Chase Hughes of Monumental Sports Network. “They’re putting all their trust in me,” he said. “For me to be trusted with this role, it’s something I’ve always wanted. It’s on my side and my part to keep up that trust and confidence in me. They threw me in the fire, so I’ve gotta put the fire out.” Gafford is in the first year of a three-year, $40.2MM contract.
- Lottery pick Jett Howard will play for the NBA G League Osceola Magic this week, Jason Beede of the Orlando Sentinel tweets. Orlando coach Jamahl Mosley said it will be great for Howard to get steady minutes with Osceola. The 11th overall pick has made just five brief appearances in Orlando’s games this season.
Clifford is so clueless, same as Mitch. They should have just cut bait with Bridges. Instead, they’re starting the guy.
The only bright spot is they’ll probably both be fired soon, and maybe then the Hornets can get some real leadership.
It was the Hornets chance to start over fresh but instead they wanted Miles so bad. The Hornets should sign Kevin Porter Jr while they are at it. Horrible management
Gafford is a beast in the paint. The Wiz unfortunately only have him to rely on for rebounds, though I imagine that is by design so that they can tank for higher potential draft picks. Saw that coming when they had Vukcevic stay overseas after he showed in summer league that he was ready to come in and play quality minutes.
They need a backup center
Orlando should had have drafted Dereck Lively with the 11 pick instead Jett Howard, big mistake from Orlando FO they passed on a really good player. Kudos to Dallas that they didn’t think twice and grabbed Lively he will be a force in this league.
I would say Marcus Sasser, Jaime Jaquez, or Keyonte George instead. They have three decent Centers on the roster already; Lively would be squeezed for minutes. But the Magic could use a scoring guard. And Jaquez could easily play on the wing, if they feel like going small.
Agreed, I hope time prove me that I was wrong and Orlando FO made the right selection.
Happy Birthday ….. 11-21-1944
Earl “The Pearl” Monroe
Drafted by Baltimore Bullets, second pick in 1967 draft. Washington Wizards today
Everyone here should thank him. For inventing the spin move. The Goat Shake.