After a 54-point drubbing at the hands of the Nuggets, the Trail Blazers bounced back with a win over the shorthanded Suns on Sunday in Phoenix, writes Joe Freeman of The Oregonian. Portland’s victory came at a cost, however, as Deni Avdija was forced to exit the game after 59 seconds when he tweaked his lower back — he was questionable entering the contest because of the injury.
As Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report (subscriber link) writes, Avdija first injured his back on January 11 and he has experienced multiple flare-ups since. The All-Star forward has missed 10 games over the past six weeks due to the injury and was clearly was less than 100% in some of his seven appearances over that stretch, Highkin adds.
“I’m not a doctor, but yeah, we’ve got to see what’s going on,” interim head coach Tiago Splitter said. “Dive deep and see what’s really happening.”
The Blazers would be better off resting their leading scorer for an extended period rather than having him constantly be in and out of the lineup, according to Highkin, who notes that Portland has the easiest remaining schedule (by opponent winning percentage) in the league and the team is likely locked into the play-in tournament regardless of whether Avdija plays or not.
Having the 25-year-old healthy for the stretch run and postseason should be the Blazers’ top priority, says Highkin.
Here are a few more injury updates from around the NBA:
- Coby White is expected to make his debut for Charlotte on Tuesday in Chicago, as the Hornets have listed the impending free agent as probable to suit up against his former team (Twitter link). White has been sidelined since Feb. 3 due to a left calf strain, but head coach Charles Lee said the 26-year-old guard has made “great strides” in his recovery.
- Warriors big man Kristaps Porzingis, who woke up sick on Sunday and didn’t play in the comeback victory vs. Denver, didn’t travel with the team for Golden State’s two-game road trip and isn’t expected to play on Tuesday at New Orleans or on Wednesday at Memphis, tweets Anthony Slater of ESPN. Porzingis has formally been ruled out of Tuesday’s contest.
- Magic guard Jalen Suggs is questionable to suit up for Tuesday’s game at the Lakers due to a back strain, per Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel (Twitter link). Suggs experienced back spasms last week in Thursday’s win in Sacramento and missed Orlando’s back-to-back road games over the weekend because of the issue.
🤓🤓🤓
Really good rundown of KP’s contract here, everyone should read it and understand why GSW got him, its because of this:
“The Warriors could not only sign-and-trade Porzingis this summer, they would be able to sign-and-trade him and aggregate his salary in a bigger trade.
Porzingis is on a $30 million expiring deal, which makes him an interesting piece.
In the last two months of his contract, Porzingis is incentivized to show he can stay on the court and return to being a productive player.
He has only played 17 games this season (though his advanced metrics were excellent in that sample with the Hawks). He deteriorated in the second half of last year as he dealt with an illness, which was ultimately diagnosed as POTS. Lower-leg injuries have also sidelined him. But he was recently cleared to play, and could debut for the Warriors before the All-Star break.
If Porzingis can make himself available, he should fit well with the Warriors, who have long sought a center who can space the floor and protect the rim next to Green. It’s possible that the Warriors could look to re-sign him — at a much lower annual cost — in that case.
Or, the Warriors could look to sign-and-trade him in the offseason as part of a bigger deal. Without Kuminga, they lack the type of meaty, mid-sized salaries required for matching salaries to complete big trades. In this route, the Warriors would be able to aggregate his sign-and-trade salary, too.
The other option would be for the Warriors to let Porzingis walk, shaving $30 million off their books. That wouldn’t make them a cap space team, but it would likely get them out of the luxury tax.
The biggest advantage of getting out of the tax could be gaining the opportunity to sign a player like De’Anthony Melton to the non-taxpayer midlevel exception. Melton has been terrific this season, so he’ll likely decline his $3 million player option for 2026-27.”
link to sfstandard.com
I wouldn’t get overly excited about sign and trade scenarios
They are better designed for teams hoping not to compete in the following year than vice versa and also have to stretch at minimum 3 years guaranteed so idk who wants to do that with KP today and certainly not while giving value
More likely scenario for GSW imo
Sign Kp on like a 2/26 no options either way
Full Mle (15,1 M next year )
Trade Butlers 56 Mill expiring to punch up
*Pray LBJ slides in cheap
Get a good Jimmy trade, LBJ cheap, and KP health it could be something dangerous, lotta hoops tho to jump thru there
GSW would only take Lebron for a small money deal, he’s not worth it. Luka been carrying his corpse all season, Bron is cooked cooked. All his best games this year are against tanking teams.
I can see GSW pivoting from Giannis to throw a bunch of draft picks at the Pels for Trey Murphy, Saddiq Bey/Herb Jones and maybe even Zion. But there’s a bunch of options out there. KD likely will be on the move again.
Highly inaccurate on his play but yes it would be MLE (15,1) or even lower
AT 15.1 its a steal, any lower should feel like a crime
I have GSW as one of the top 5 spots for LBJ so there’s a decent chance
I do think its on the table, it’s obvious from a fan perspective that Steph/Moody/Lebron/Dray/Giannis would sell out everywhere. How much time they would be on the court together would likely be “very little” but still would be cool to see when they were. Kerr would hate it because it isn’t small enough, but maybe Kerr would be gone too?
Do you think the Warriors are going to move on from Jimmy this offseason for someone not-injured? I’m 50/50 on it, I can easily see them offering him in the next Giannis offer, but they did say out loud “we want to see his whole rehab through”. It would make sense for them to move him if they were going to turn over a lot of the roster, he has to go for money reasons.
Yes, if its a FULL Green light foot on the gas pedal I see Jimmy’s 56 Million a necessary vessel to float the boat
Don’t think its G but there’s unlimited possibilities with 56 M expiring . Teams would prefer getting 1 56 M guy opposed to 3 18 M guys due to limited roster spots so Jimmy’s expiring is attractive in those regards
“Bron is cooked cooked. All his best games this year are against tanking teams.”
22 pts 10 ast 6 reb vs OKC and 20 pts 10 ast 7 reb vs GSW disagree.
I would take GSW out of that they were without their top 2 scorers and a real bad 3 pt shooting game where the lakers only won by 6 points. OKC the lakers still lost without their best player in SGA.
Runners knee says they are tanking…
Runners Knee can be pretty painful.
Depending on how the trial period goes, 2/26 with a player option on the second year sounds right.
They are going to have to pony up for Melton, Santos, and Spencer. There is no reason to let those guys walk.
LeBron loves LA. He signs with the Lakers or retires.
Think retirement is a longshot but agree Lakers first choice
1- Lakers
2- Cle
3- GSW
4- NYk
5- Field
6- Retirement
Would be my rankings
Bron wants to go out in Finals. He will take less money to play for a contender. Has to be Cavs.
Cavs aren’t making finals with Bron. New York should sign him, lols.
I sign him first minimum. Knicks got no cap. Neither do Cavs. You know how he is lol. He ends with Cavs he might get a statue. No team right now is giving him a statue. A ring is worth more than 35 mill. Spurs tor minimum … go play with KD. He can go wherever he wants for minimum.
The East will be won by Boston next year.
Not beating Knicks. They couldn’t do it with a better team. We need Thibs back. Seriously Rose should have him as advisor lol. He’s getting 10 mill.
They were all hurt last year what are you talking about lol
Exactly…sign and trade to whom?
Dudes …. why oh why would you trade for a guy who has a illness that won’t allow him to play. You give up JK for this ???? Why oh Why
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). It is a condition that impacts the autonomic nervous system, causing extreme dizziness, fatigue, and rapid heart rate changes upon standing.
Who said KP can’t play? There are quite a few athletes with the condition who are performing at high levels.
By the way, the Warriors are playing better than they have all season, and they are missing players.
Medical and health care professionals. You think KP would be getting paid if not already under contract before this was diagnosed?
Head out the clouds man.
He’s a FA at end of year. Nobody is signing him unless it’s minimum.
KP has been out a lot since this diagnosis. H nissed playoffs. And plenty time on Celtics. I get Hawks getting him. Expiring contract. But Warriors give up JK. Could have traded him at draft. KP is done. He’s avg 43 gms last 4 yrs.
The Warriors couldn’t have traded Kuminga at the draft. It is completely impossible.
You been making up excuses for three yrs here.
Go watch Raynaud play. And see what a true big looks like
That’s not an excuse. It is a fact. They couldn’t trade him on draft day.
Al, scroll up. I posted a great rundown about why GSW acquired KP, its about what happens at the end of the season. “GSW signing KP” is one of many options.
KP is the warriors taking a chance they can get a big center. It was never about resigning him but to a lower contract if he is worth it. people don’t understand the warriors want to go into the 2027/2028 season with a lot to spend. Moody is the only 1 signed for 27/28 season.
You are right. The Warriors were probably not going anywhere with TJD, Heild, and Kuminga. So, why not take a risk. At worst, they clear cap space. At best, KP becomes a sign and trade asset that can fetch a significant return. And, the head of their medical staff is highly regarded. So, he can probably get KP right.
I doubt teams will be linining up to sign KP unless he can put together 20 games in a row and show a lot of talent in those games. Maybe they can get him on a 1 year deal for $12 million. He might retire if his health is still a concern. Either way that is money off payroll to sign players. payrollis at $176 with who is signed. they will have wiggle room next year to sign FA and players up for raises unlike previous years.
I should have stated teams might line up for him after a successful 26-27 season. I wasn’t thinking this off-season.
I think its 50/50 he plays next year.
Dude you guys are amazing. Raynaud was a free pick. And you berate me cause ai told you so. JK is worth mot than expiring money. Just bad decision.
Raynaud still can’t play defense. Why draft him?
He’s a Rookie. And RIGHT now is better than any big Warriors have. With his WHOLE career ahead of him.
He still can’t do the one thing you said was the easiest to learn, DEFENSE. He could have learned it at Stanford.
Nobody on Kings plays D. He is one of best rebounders by mins. Thats D. He’s better than Post right now. After 40 gms. Real talent improves in NBA. Rebounding is defense. See how easy it is for him. Team defense takes FOUR other players and a aSYSTEM. A guy like him learns with time. Unlike you
Defensive Strengths & Style
Fundamental Post Defender: Raynaud uses his 245-pound frame and 7-foot-1 stature to hold his ground against physical bigs, using a strong base to prevent being pushed off his spot.
Improved Rim Protection: While not an elite rim protector early in his career, he showed year-over-year improvement, increasing his blocks to 1.4 per game as a senior. He relies on timing and positioning to contest shots.
Solid Rebounder: He is considered a high-level defensive rebounder (roughly 8-10+ per game), using his size to secure the ball.
Smart Defender: Generally regarded as having high basketball IQ, allowing him to anticipate actions and manage his personal fouls, averaging only 2.0 fouls in 33.5 minutes per game as a senior.
Peachtree Hoops
College Accolades
2025 First-Team All-ACC
2024 Pac-12 Most Improved Player
This is what’s known as 20-20 hindsight. GSW wanted a stretch big and Raynaud isn’t that.
That’s true. But he was free and is better than Post. And will still be here getting better. When Al leaves. I was here draft night saying the same things.
I am not Giants 74. Who only knows him thru ME lol.
Doesn’t matter what GS does, they will be a lotto team next year and any year now that Curry gets a multi-year injury and retires means they will be a deep lotto team for 5-10 years. GM can’t draft so it will be Wiseman after Wiseman.