Kris Dunn To Be Re-Evaluated In Two Weeks After Ankle Procedure
DECEMBER 31: Dunn underwent his arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle on Tuesday, and will be in a walking boot for the time being, the Hawks announced today in a press release. According to the team, he’ll be re-evaluated after resting for the next two weeks.
DECEMBER 27: New Hawks reserve guard Kris Dunn will have arthroscopic surgery on his right ankle to remove loose cartilage on December 30, according to a team press release.
The Hawks announced that Dunn had been partaking in “modified” individual and team practices after a November MRI revealed right knee cartilage disruption.
He had initially been sidelined as a Bull with an MCL sprain suffered against the Nets on January 31. In 51 games last season for Chicago (including 32 starts), Dunn averaged 7.3 PPG, 3.6 RPG, 3.4 APG, and 2.0 SPG.
Apparently, as his knee recovered, Dunn struggled with pain in his low back and right ankle. A subsequent MRI this month indicated that he was compensating for loose cartilage limiting his range of motion in the right ankle.
A recovery timeline for the defensive-oriented backup guard, who joined the Hawks this offseason on a two-year, $10MM deal, will be determined after the surgery.
This is not an insignificant blow for Atlanta, as the 26-year-old Dunn was projected to be a major defensive contributor to a very offensively-oriented club. The versatile 6’3″ Dunn can capably defend point guards and wings.
Dunn’s absence continued will continue to open up additional rotation minutes for reserve wings Cam Reddish and Tony Snell, and should yield more time for 34-year-old veteran point guard Rajon Rondo when he is able to suit up for the Hawks.
Pacific Notes: Wiseman, Kaminsky, Lakers, Green
Rookie Warriors center James Wiseman has quickly emerged as a big contributor for Golden State and an early top Rookie of the Year contender, as Tim Kawakami of The Athletic details.
Though Golden State has had an up-and-down 2-2 start, Kawakami argues that the 19-year-old No. 2 draft pick out of Memphis clearly has established himself as the most intriguing prospect among the Warriors’ young guys. “I told y’all after Day 1 that I think he’s going to be really special,” power forward Draymond Green said of Wiseman. “I had never seen James play much and so to see his skill set is, ‘Wow, it’s nice.’”
There’s more out of the Pacific Division:
- New Suns center Frank Kaminsky was excited to play well against the Kings, the team that had just cut him, Suns writer Gina Mizell tweets. “I gotta be honest, that felt good,” Kaminsky said. He scored 11 points in 19 minutes off the bench for Phoenix on Sunday.
- After the Lakers had their first All-Star player absence, their deep roster showed its mettle in a 127-91 Anthony Davis-free route of the Timberwolves Sunday, according to Bill Oram of The Athletic. “The expectation and the norm for us, for most of the league, is that there will be guys out,” head coach Frank Vogel noted. “We just have to make sure we understand that’s the norm and don’t let it slow us down at all.” Kyle Kuzma, Marc Gasol, Montrezl Harrell, Dennis Schroder and Talen Horton-Tucker all scored in double digits, along with Los Angeles’s remaining healthy All-Star, LeBron James.
- Warriors head coach Steve Kerr has said that he is optimistic that power forward Draymond Green will appear in his first 2020/21 season game in the club’s first home game on Friday, according to Anthony Slater of The Athletic (Twitter link).
Warriors Exercise Third-Year Option On Jordan Poole
The Warriors have exercised their $2,161,440 third-year team option on Jordan Poole, according to Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area (via Twitter). Poole’s rookie scale contract is now guaranteed through at least the 2021/22 season.
Golden State drafted the 6’4″ shooting guard out of Michigan with the No. 28 pick in 2019. In his rookie season, Poole averaged 8.8 PPG, 2.4 APG, 2.1 RPG and 0.6 SPG across 57 games (including 14 starts). He posted a shooting line of .333/.279/.798.
This year, with more wing rotation depth thanks to the addition of Kelly Oubre, Poole’s minutes have taken an early hit. He is currently averaging 15.0 MPG across his first four contests for the 2-2 Warriors.
Clippers Turn Down Team Option On Mfiondu Kabengele
The Clippers will not exercise their $2,174,880 third-year team option on center Mfiondu Kabengele, Andrew Greif of the Los Angeles Times tweets. Today was the deadline to pick up rookie scale team options for 2021/22.
Greif adds that Los Angeles will continue to assess the big man’s play throughout the rest of the 2020/21 season, and could sign him to another contract in free agency. Kabengele, the No. 27 pick in the 2019 draft out of Florida State, will enter unrestricted free agency in the summer of 2021 and the Clippers won’t be able to offer him a starting salary worth more than his declined option.
Kabengele saw limited time for playoff-contending L.A. during his rookie season last year, averaging just 3.5 PPG and 0.9 RPG in 5.3 MPG across 12 games with the team.
In 27 games (all starts) for L.A.’s G League affiliate, the Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario, the 6’9″ center averaged a much more robust 18.7 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 1.9 BPG and 1.3 APG.
Kabengele is the only 2019 first-rounder to have his third-year option for ’21/22 declined.
New York Notes: Ntilikina, Dinwiddie, Chiozza, Bullock
A rash of backcourt injuries have allowed 6’5″ combo guard Frank Ntilikina to become the primary option at backup point guard for the Knicks, writes Marc Berman of the New York Post.
Rookie Immanuel Quickley bruised his hip in the Knicks’ season opener, Dennis Smith Jr. will be missing all of the club’s current four-game road trip due to a bruised quadriceps muscle, and veteran off-guard Austin Rivers has yet to suit up for New York as he deals with a pulled groin.
Ntilikina has been striving to improve his jump shooting during this young season. “Working [on it] is the key,” he said. “The answer to probably everything in this game is probably work and just treat it with confidence.”
There’s more out of the Empire State:
- With guard Spencer Dinwiddie likely out for the season due to a partially torn ACL, some league executives weighed in on whether or not he will pick up his $12.3MM player option with the Nets for the 2021/22 NBA season, per Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. Dinwiddie released a statement on his Instagram page, expressing his hope to beat the odds as he works to recover from this latest knee issue.
- Two-way Nets guard Chris Chiozza is currently the biggest rotational beneficiary of Dinwiddie’s absence, according to Mollie Walker of the New York Post. “You never want to see your teammate get hurt and praying for Spencer, we’re here for him, hopefully he makes a speedy return,” Chiozza said. “He’s a big part of this team. While he’s out, we take it, everybody takes it, to do a little bit more than we’ve been doing, collectively.”
- After battling health issues for much of his 2019/20 season with the Knicks, veteran swingman Reggie Bullock has managed to contribute on both sides of the court to the injury-depleted club this year, according to Steve Popper of Newsday. “Well, his defense has been terrific,” head coach Tom Thibodeau said. “So just watching him move on the court he’s obviously not laboring like he did last year. I think health is the big thing and he’s been a good pro wherever he’s been.” Bullock just poured in 17 points in almost 41 minutes to help the Knicks beat the Cavaliers tonight, 95-86. He connected on five of his nine three-point attempts.
Texas Notes: Burke, Spurs, KP, Wood
Mavericks reserve point guard Trey Burke has dealt with a variety of ups and downs in 2020, writes Dwain Price of Mavericks.com. Burke’s year had an ignominious start when the Sixers waived him before the coronavirus pandemic caused a 2019/20 season pause.
Burke was then dealt a blow when he contracted the COVID-19 before the 2019/20 NBA season restart. “Everyone knows about the corona situation – me coming down with corona and getting through that and getting to Orlando and helping the team produce,” Burke said. His subsequent performance in the Orlando restart for the Mavericks earned him a three-year, $9.45MM deal in the 2020 offseason.
There’s more out of the Lone Star State:
- The Spurs have announced in a press release that they will keep fans out of the AT&T Center for the foreseeable future this season. “While we are confident in the plans and protocols we have in place, we are uncomfortable hosting fans at this moment as the COVID-19 numbers and data in our community continue to trend in the wrong direction,” team president R.C. Buford said in the statement.
- Center Kristaps Porzingis took part in his first full-contact Mavericks team practice since an October right knee lateral meniscus surgery, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN. Head coach Rick Carlisle expects that Porzingis will likely return to the court for Dallas in January. “Sometime in the next couple of weeks isn’t far-fetched,” Carlisle said.
- Despite an 0-2 start and some off-court pathos, new Rockets big man Christian Wood has impressed new head coach Stephen Silas thus far, according to Kelly Iko of The Athletic. “Still trying to find his way, and we have to make sure he’s rolling and popping at the right time,” Silas said. “He started off really good hitting those three 3s early, but he’s got a little ways to go as well. We all do.” Wood is currently averaging 27.0 PPG and 8.0 RPG in 40.0 MPG for a depleted Rockets squad. He also has a stellar shooting line of .548/.571/.667.
18 G League Clubs Likely Headed To Disney World Bubble
The NBA could be returning to Disney World in Orlando, Florida for a “bubble” campus experience in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic. This time, Disney World looks set to be home for 18 G League clubs as the NBA’s minor league begins its 2020/21 season, per The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Though Atlanta had previously been the frontrunner as a destination for the 2020/21 G League season, Orlando emerged in recent weeks as a viable candidate. Disney World of course served as a successful locale for the 2019/20 NBA season restart. The ’19/20 NBA “bubble” season included eight seeding games for 22 NBA clubs, a play-in game between the Trail Blazers and Grizzlies, plus a full slate of playoff games without any player, personnel member, coach or family member of team personnel recording a positive coronavirus test result after quarantining.
As previously reported, are expected to land in their home markets for physical examinations by January 19. A week later, January 26, clubs will all convene in Orlando. The 12-to-15-game 2020/21 G League season is set to commence on February 8. Playoffs are currently expected to run from March 5-9.
The news report includes all 18 teams anticipated to participate in the Disney World campus:
- Agua Caliente Clippers of Ontario (Clippers)
- Austin Spurs (Spurs)
- Canton Charge (Cavaliers)
- Delaware Blue Coats (Sixers)
- Erie BayHawks (Pelicans)
- Fort Wayne Mad Ants (Pacers)
- G League Ignite (Select Team)
- Greensboro Swarm (Hornets)
- Iowa Wolves (Timberwolves)
- Lakeland Magic (Magic)
- Long Island Nets (Nets)
- Memphis Hustle (Grizzlies)
- Oklahoma City Blue (Thunder)
- Raptors 905 (Raptors)
- Rio Grande Valley Vipers (Rockets)
- Salt Lake City Stars (Jazz)
- Santa Cruz Warriors (Warriors)
- Westchester Knicks (Knicks)
The report notes that the Wizards will be using the Erie BayHawks as their affiliate, as previously reported. Washington’s own club, the Capital City Go-Go, will not be involved in the 2020/21 G League bubble season.
As we previously relayed, several teams were asked to volunteer to opt out of the bubble this season, as the G League will not be able to accommodate all 29 clubs into this Orlando campus environment.
Player and personnel health and safety expenses will be accounted for by each individual club partaking in the enterprise, and sources tell The Athletic reports that these will cost between $400K-$500K.
The 2020/21 NBA G League draft will take place on January 11, per Charania.
Southeast Notes: Heat Free Agency, LaMelo, Collins, Avdija
With Giannis Antetokounmpo now signed to the Bucks on a record $228MM five-year extension, the Heat could pivot their 2021 free agency focus to alternative options, such as star forwards Kawhi Leonard and Blake Griffin, writes Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel.
Leonard can opt out of the contract he signed with the Clippers in the summer of 2019, and has sounded non-committal to L.A. beyond this season in recent interviews, in Winderman’s view. Meanwhile, though injuries limited Griffin to just 20 games last season, the 6’9″ power forward made the All-Star team for the Pistons in 2019.
The 2020 Eastern Conference champions should have significant cap space next summer to add a high-level player, though they will need to address the restricted free agency of sharpshooter Duncan Robinson.
There’s more out of the Southeast Division:
- Though rookie Hornets point guard LaMelo Ball has struggled through some growing pains in this early season, Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer suggests that the No. 3 overall pick should see more playing time from coach James Borrego. Ball is averaging just 15.5 minutes so far. “It’s tough. There are a number of guys that are capable of handling minutes,” Borrego said. “LaMelo’s got to do his part. It’s my job to do what’s best for this club.
- Hawks power forward John Collins may have rejected an extension offer in excess of $90MM prior to the season, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on his Hoop Collective podcast. The high-scoring big man will become a restricted free agent in the summer of 2021, and could command a similar number – or a higher one – on the open market.
- Rookie Wizards swingman Deni Avdija is getting the first-year treatment from league referees, per Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington. Head coach Scott Brooks contends that Avdija is receiving quick whistles from league officials. Early foul trouble limited Avdija to just 15 minutes of action in a loss to the Magic yesterday. “It’s just part of the rookie initiation,” Brooks commented. “I [reviewed the plays] at halftime… I didn’t think two of them were fouls.”
Jordan McRae To Sign With Beijing Ducks
4:02pm: McRae’s deal with Beijing will be worth $1.5MM for 25 games, sources tell Quinton Mayo of NBC Sports Washington (Twitter links). According to Mayo, McRae is set to depart today, pending the OK from the Chinese government.
2:21pm: Former NBA guard Jordan McRae is set to join the Beijing Ducks of the CBA, per Emiliano Carchia of Sportando (Twitter link). The Ducks have enjoyed great success added a lot of ex-NBA point guards in the recent past, including Jeremy Lin and Stephon Marbury.
The 6’5″ combo guard out of Tennessee spent parts of last season with the Pistons, Wizards and Nuggets. He also logged time with the Suns and Cavaliers across four NBA seasons. McRae holds career averages of 6.9 PPG, 1.8 RPG, and 1.4 APG, in 13.8 MPG, across 123 games.
While with the Wizards’ G League affiliate, the Capital City Go-Go, he notched a single-game scoring record of 54 points against the Celtics’ G League affiliate, the Maine Red Claws, in January 2019.
This will not be McRae’s first tour of duty overseas, as he took an intermission from the NBA to serve with Saski Baskonia of the Spanish Liga ACB.
Trail Blazers Pick Up 2021/22 Options For Simons, Little
The Trail Blazers have picked up the 2021/22 season options for third-year guard Anfernee Simons and second-year forward Nassir Little, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN tweets.
After appearing in just 20 games during his 2018/19 rookie campaign, Simons, 21, earned a slot in Portland’s rotation during his second season with the club, 2019/20. The 6’3″ guard averaged 8.3 PPG, 2.2 RPG, and 1.4 APG in 20.7 MPG across 70 games.
The team has now locked in the $3,938,818 2021/22 season salary for Simons. If the Trail Blazers and Simons do not reach an agreement on a rookie scale extension next offseason, the guard will become a restricted free agent in the summer of 2022.
Little, 20, was drafted with the No. 25 pick in 2019 after one season at North Carolina. The 6’5″ forward appeared in 48 games during his rookie season, averaging 11.9 MPG. He is set to earn $2,316,240 next season.
The league deadline for teams to exercise third- and fourth-year team options on rookie scale contracts is December 29.