Injured guard Austin Reaves is “progressing well” from his Grade 2 left gastrocnemius (calf) strain and is on track to return to action at some point during the Lakers‘ road trip, head coach JJ Redick told reporters on Tuesday (Twitter link via Dan Woike of The Athletic).
As Mike Trudell of Spectrum SportsNet notes (via Twitter), Los Angeles’ eight-game road trip began on Tuesday in Denver and concludes on February 3 in Brooklyn.
Reaves, who suffered the injury in a Christmas Day loss to Houston, was in the midst of a breakout fifth season for the Lakers prior to the injury, averaging 26.6 points, 6.3 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 1.0 steal on .502/.365/.873 shooting in 23 games (35.3 minutes per contest).
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- Drew Timme, who is on a two-way contract with the Lakers, received unexpected rotation minutes on Saturday due to injuries affecting Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes and responded with a career-high 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting, writes Janis Carr of The Orange County Register. Redick indicated that Timme would likely be part of the rotation for the time being as long as he keeps playing well. The 25-year-old big man went undrafted in 2023 after starring in college at Gonzaga, but didn’t sign his first NBA contract until March 28, 2025. He says he’s fueled by his doubters. “In college and since I’ve left, it’s been you can’t do this, you can’t do that, you’re not good enough for this and that. All these things that I can’t do. And I see it, and it’s fuel,” Timme said. “At the end of the day, I’m a good player. I believe in myself and my abilities, and I believe that I can impact the game at any level, anywhere. To be able to have this opportunity and to be able to help the team, it’s great.”
- Veteran forward Andrew Wiggins received a warm reception from the Warriors and their fans on Monday in his first game back at Chase Center since he was traded to Miami last February as part of the Jimmy Butler blockbuster, according to Janie McCauley of The Associated Press. The team played a video tribute for Wiggins, who spent five years with the Warriors and helped them win the NBA Finals in 2022. “Wiggs is just such a great human being and beloved in our locker room. Had so much success here and helped us turn things around from that two-year stretch when we didn’t make the playoffs,” head coach Steve Kerr said. “He was just a joy to coach every single day. When you get a guy like that on your team and you go through a lot together, both on and off the court, then you make a trade, it’s just like that. It’s just crazy, this league, how this business operates. You have to just deal with it but it is sad when your relationships like that are all of a sudden — I mean you still have a relationship but you don’t see each other.”
- Kings guard Keon Ellis, who has been involved in several trade rumors this season, was available for Tuesday’s contest vs. Miami after missing two games with a sore knee, tweets James Ham of TheKingsBeat.com. Ellis will be an unrestricted free agent in the offseason if he doesn’t sign an extension before then.
The Ellis problem is difficult. He’s a UFA at year’s end with no clear $ amount attached to his value. Obviously his value is enough for teams to try to deal for him but not enough to be an actual rotation piece in this historically bad Kings squad.
Almost like the inverse of Kuminga to be honest. Specifically good at one thing and get’s paid very little to do so. I guess the commonality being lack of playing time.
If you’re Sacramento, you can’t play him so you can’t pay him. Ship him to the highest bidder.
Timme had a great game on the road in Denver. Really good signing by Pelinka.
last night Kuminga only improved his trade value. Somebody is going to make the warriors an offer for him that is worth taking.
I think it’s a pipe dream to think that the warriors can replace butler via trade. Perhaps the injury makes the team more likely to exercise kuminga’s team option for next year and utilize him the rest of this year to boost his value. His expiring contract next year may net more than it would this season
The warriors GM said the same thing there is no chance they will be able to replce Butler. So you are correct.
They could sit him down again now that he showed he’s healthy and can play.
There’s so many ways Warriors can approach trade deadline. It could be all the vets like Melton, Holford, Hield if Warriira can get picks pack.
Calf strain and a knife in the back at the same time can’t be easy. Show ME THE MONEY. See you later James family. Nice try, bye bye.
Wiggins was only there 5 years.