Rockets guard Fred VanVleet is still holding out hope he can return this season after tearing his right ACL in September RealGM relays. VanVleet made those comments on a recent episode of the Unguarded podcast (YouTube link).
“I’m about five, five and a half months, almost six months now,” VanVleet said. “So, I’m getting there. I’m getting stronger. I’m getting better. I’m moving around a lot better. I’m getting some good on-court workouts.
“I think a lot of the predictions of where I was going to be were made pre-surgery, so we’ve had to adjust that timeline as things go on. But again, selfishly, I’m always going to keep my window open. I’m not going to come on here and tell you, ‘Oh, I’m not coming back,’ and then I come back like, ‘Oh, surprise.’ But I’m not ruling it out, and I’m not saying I’m coming back. I’m just rehabbing, I’m working on myself, and I keep that goal in mind because I’ve made such good progress.”
Here’s more from the Southwest Division:
- Dejounte Murray continued his strong comeback from his Achilles tear. The Pelicans guard racked up 35 points, seven rebounds and four assists against Houston on Friday in his eighth game of the season. “On both sides of the ball, he was fantastic down the stretch,” Pelicans’ interim head coach James Borrego said, per Rod Walker of NOLA.com.
- Cooper Flagg had 25 points for the Mavericks against Cleveland on Friday and feels he’s finally recovered from the midfoot sprain that sidelined him for eight games. “I really feel I hadn’t come back with my pop, like my athleticism has kind of been lacking since I got hurt and came back,” Flagg told Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News. “I finally felt like I was getting my pop back a little tonight.”
- Ty Jerome, who joined the Grizzlies during the offseason on a three-year, $27.66MM contract, had 21 points against Detroit on Friday. He’s averaging 20.1 points and 5.4 assists in his first 12 games for Memphis after missing most of the season due to a calf strain. “I mean Ty’s been very solid for us the whole time,” coach Tuomas Iilaso said. “He’s turning into one of the premier creators in the whole league. [He’s] able to create shots for himself and for others, and he gets the toughest assignments every night. Today, [the] Pistons we’re able to put a lot of length, a lot of physicality on him, and they also stepped up on the pick-and-rolls, to try to get the ball out of his hands. But, somehow, he always finds a way.”
Murray is right up there for most overrated and overpaid “stars” of this era.
Easy to say that since he’s been injured so much. Pels might actually prove they made a solid deal for Queen. Still should fire Dumars though.
Yet in 10 gms back. Pelicans are 7-3. And in 8 gms he has played. He avg 27 mins, 20 pts, 5.5 reb,
5.3 ast. Guy has been hurt ever since he signed a big contract.
Don’t think too many people have ever thought of Murray as a “star”. Sire he’s a 1 to.e All Star but he was an injury replacement. It’s not like he was voted in. He’s not paid like a star.
The league sure did the Spurs a huge favor by giving him insane trade value after that All-Star sub. He’s a poor decision maker who’s destroyed every franchise he’s been traded to so far. The point guard version of DeRozan. The Spurs first step of tanking was to highlight him and trade him for draft picks. Dejonte getting numbers was the only goal they had that season! The fact that he and demar rave about the Spurs and thinks they loved him is hilarious to me!!
“Fantastic down the stretch”? He made an unforced error and turned the ball over by stepping out of bounds up one with 14 seconds to go.
He was fouled
FVV is signed for 25 mill next yr. I definitely give up FVV for Murray. Murray is signed for two more yrs. Playing next to Amen helps him stay healthy. And that is a Big Backcourt. Probably only take a pick. Or two late first rd picks. FVV can mentor Fears for a year.
Oh