LeBron James Expected To Miss At Least Two More Games
After leaving Sunday’s loss early due to right ankle soreness, Lakers star LeBron James likely won’t return to action until at least next Sunday, reports ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski.
According to Wojnarowski, James is expected to miss Thursday’s game vs. the Clippers and Friday’s vs. Portland as he rests his troublesome ankle. LeBron, who also sat out Monday’s contest vs. Denver, missed 20 games due to a right high ankle sprain and had only been back for two games when he reaggravated the injury.
As Woj notes, the expectation is that the 36-year-old will proceed cautiously with his ankle, focusing on getting healthy for the postseason. James had suggested on Sunday night that he was prioritizing the playoffs over fighting for regular season seeding.
“It doesn’t matter at the end of the day (where the Lakers land in the standings) if I’m not 100% or close to 100%,” James said, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
While LeBron’s stance makes sense, his ongoing absence will put the team at greater risk of losing its grip on a top-six seed in the West — a seventh-place finish would mean having to participate in at least one play-in game to secure a postseason spot. As we noted earlier today, Friday’s game in Portland is particularly important, since the Lakers and Blazers are neck-and-neck in the standings and Friday’s winner will gain a tiebreaker advantage.
Patrick Beverley May Return On Tuesday
Clippers guard Patrick Beverley, who has been sidelined for nearly a month due to a fractured hand, has been upgraded to questionable for Tuesday’s game vs. Toronto, as Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN tweets.
While he stops short of reporting that Beverley is set to return tonight, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski adds (via Twitter) that the 32-year-old is “progressing on making his return” on Tuesday.
If Beverley doesn’t end up being cleared to play tonight, it sounds like there’s a good chance he’ll return on Thursday vs. the Lakers.
Getting Beverley back in the lineup will be a nice boost for the Clippers, who have counted on the veteran guard as a secondary play-maker, outside shooter, and perimeter defender this season. Beverley has started all 31 games he has played in 2020/21, averaging 8.0 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists on .432/.416/.805 shooting in 23.4 minutes per contest.
Having got Kawhi Leonard back on Saturday, the Clippers are getting closer to 100% as the playoffs approach. The hope is that Serge Ibaka (back) will also be available before the postseason gets underway.
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Magic Sign Sindarius Thornwell To Two-Way Contract
The Magic have signed free agent guard Sindarius Thornwell to a two-way contract, the team announced today in a press release. Devin Cannady has been waived in a corresponding roster move.
Thornwell, 26, spent his first two NBA seasons with the Clippers after being selected 48th overall in the 2017 draft. He later caught on with the Pelicans for the 2020 summer restart and spent much of the 2020/21 season with New Orleans as well, first on a non-guaranteed contract, then on a pair of 10-day deals. The Pels didn’t re-sign him after that, largely due to luxury tax concerns.
In 153 career games, Thornwell has averaged just 2.5 PPG and 1.3 RPG in 10.3 minutes per contest. However, his shooting percentages (.414 FG%, .348 3PT%) haven’t been too bad, and he’s considered a solid perimeter defender.
Cannady recently underwent season-ending ankle surgery and was on an expiring deal, so there was no real incentive for the Magic to keep him under contract for the rest of the 2020/21 season. I’d expect Orlando to consider him for either a new two-way deal or a spot on the team’s G League affiliate once he fully recovers from his ankle injury.
Cavs Officially Sign Anderson Varejão To 10-Day Deal
The Cavaliers have officially brought back longtime center Anderson Varejão, announcing today in a press release that they’ve signed him to a 10-day contract. The move had been expected once Cleveland was granted a hardship exception, which allows the team to carry an extra player.
If it feels like it’s been a while since you’ve seen Varejão in the NBA, you’re not wrong — the 38-year-old big man played his last NBA game on February 2, 2017 before being waived by the Warriors a day later. He spent two years playing professionally in Brazil after that, but has been inactive since 2019.
The Cavaliers view their reunion with Varejão as a “celebratory contract” for a player who spent over a decade with the franchise, as Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com wrote last week. It’s probably safe to assume Varejão won’t be a regular rotation player for the Cavs during the next 10 days, but he’s expected to see a little action before he officially calls it a career.
“Andy embodies all that the city of Cleveland stands for and beyond, and we couldn’t be more excited to bring his experience, leadership and character back into this locker room,” Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman said in a statement. “His infectious work ethic and commitment to our community have earned him his rightful place in the fabric of this organization and all of Northeast Ohio, and have established a genuine admiration that resonates strongly throughout our passionate fan base.
“There are not many athletes who can impact the game of basketball the way Andy has over his career, and I feel that our players will benefit greatly from their daily interaction with him. We are thrilled to welcome Andy and family back to the Cavaliers.”
Varejão, who put out his own statement expressing gratitude to Altman and team owner Dan Gilbert for the opportunity, spent 13 seasons in the NBA, including over 11 with Cleveland. In 591 career regular season games with the franchise, he averaged 7.6 points and 7.5 rebounds per contest. He also played in 71 postseason games with the Cavs before finishing his career with the Warriors.
Because a contract signed using a hardship exception can only be a 10-day deal, Varejão’s contract – which will pay him $175,668 – will only run through May 13. Assuming the Cavs still meet the criteria for the hardship provision, they could sign him to a rest-of-season contract after that if they want to retain him for the last two games of the season.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Franz Wagner Enters 2021 NBA Draft
Michigan sophomore wing Franz Wagner has decided to enter the 2021 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility. The program issued a press release announcing the decision, and Wagner also wrote a piece on The Players’ Tribune about it.
“I’ll be honest … I’m definitely feeling a lot of emotions about it,” Wagner wrote of his decision to go pro. “I’m hopeful, more than anything — as playing in the NBA has been a big dream of mine. It’s something I’ve been working extremely hard for. And after talking with my coaches and my family, I know it’s something I’m ready for. From a basketball perspective, this is the move for me to make right now. Plus, I mean, if Moe (older brother Moritz Wagner) can play in the league — obviously they’ll take anyone.”
Wagner, who played for Alba Berlin and SSV Lokomotive Bernau in Germany before his two years with the Wolverines, averaged 12.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG, and 3.0 APG on .477/.343/.835 shooting in 28 games (31.7 MPG) in 2020/21.
As Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN notes, Wagner – who comes in at No. 9 on ESPN’s big board – was considered the highest-rated prospect who had yet to declare for the draft. Wagner was also the ninth pick in ESPN’s most recent mock draft (Insider link).
Over 110 college freshmen, sophomores, and juniors are now expected to enter the draft, as our tracker shows. That number figures to keep growing in the next few weeks, before eventually decreasing when the withdrawal deadline approaches.
Poll: Lakers, Mavs, Or Blazers In Play-In Tournament?
The Lakers, Mavericks, and Trail Blazers all consider themselves solid playoff teams and potential contenders, but at least one of them will end up in the Western Conference’s play-in tournament in two weeks. With the Jazz, Suns, Clippers, and Nuggets in total control of the West’s top four seeds, the Lakers, Mavs, and Blazers find themselves vying for the fifth and sixth spots — the No. 7 finisher will host the first play-in game against the No. 8 seed.
After a bad loss at home vs. Toronto on Sunday, the Lakers (37-28) bounced back on Monday, pulling out a tight win over Denver and reclaiming the No. 5 seed for the time being. The Blazers (36-29), on the other hand, dropped into seventh place in the West with a loss in Atlanta, while the Mavs (36-28) had the night off.
With the three teams still separated by a single game, every night the rest of the way will have major postseason implications. Here are their remaining schedules:
- Lakers: at LAC, at POR, vs. PHX, vs. NYK, vs. HOU, at IND, at NOP (three back-to-backs)
- Mavs: at MIA, vs. BKN, vs. CLE, at CLE, at MEM, vs. NOP, vs. TOR, at MIN (two back-to-backs)
- Blazers: at CLE, vs. LAL, vs. SAS, vs. HOU, at UTA, at PHX, vs. DEN (two back-to-backs)
On paper, the Mavericks may have the cleanest path to a top-six seed. After their games against the Heat and Nets this week, they won’t face another team in the top eight of either conference. They also have the advantage of holding the tiebreaker if the three teams finished tied in the standings, since they’ll be the Southwest division winner. If they finish tied with just the Lakers, they’d hold that tiebreaker as well, having gone 2-1 vs. L.A. this season.
The Lakers, currently in control of the No. 5 seed, have a huge week coming up, with games on tap against the Clippers, Blazers, Suns, and Knicks. That contest in Portland, on the second night of a back-to-back, will be particularly important — if the Lakers lose that one, they won’t own the tiebreaker against either the Mavs or the Blazers. Still, if they can at least split their next four games, the Lakers should be in reasonably good shape, as they finish their season against three sub-.500 opponents.
The Blazers, meanwhile, have the opportunity to make a run over the next week, especially if they can beat the Lakers at home. They’ll likely need to win at least three of their next four games to have a decent chance to avoid the play-in, since their season ends with a brutal three-game stretch — in Utah, in Phoenix, and at home vs. Denver. Maybe Portland lucks out and faces a couple of those teams when they’re resting players in advance of the playoffs, but given how close the standings are in the upper half of the West, there’s definitely no guarantee that’ll happen.
What do you think? Which team do you expect to end up with the seventh seed, taking part in the play-in? And do you think that team will be in any danger of losing two consecutive games against the likes of the Warriors, Grizzlies, and Spurs, or should they take care of business relatively quickly?
Vote in our poll, then head to the comment section below to share your predictions!
Which team will have to participate in the play-in tournament?
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Portland Trail Blazers 46% (463)
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Los Angeles Lakers 38% (389)
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Dallas Mavericks 16% (162)
Total votes: 1,014
Trade Rumors app users, click here to vote.
Draft Notes: Griffin, Robinson, Stevenson, More
Syracuse swingman Alan Griffin won’t be returning to the Orange for his senior year, having opted to go pro and forgo his remaining college eligibility. Griffin announced the decision in a video on Twitter, as Mike Waters of Syracuse.com relays.
After spending two years at Illinois, Griffin transferred to Syracuse for his junior season and emerged as a starter, averaging 13.3 PPG 5.8 RPG, and 1.6 BPG in 28 games (29.3 MPG).
Here are a few more draft-related updates:
- Fresno State sophomore forward/center Orlando Robinson is entering the draft and maintaining his NCAA eligibility, according to a press release from the program. Robinson, who has started all 54 games he has played through two seasons for Fresno State, increased his averages to 14.6 PPG and 9.2 RPG in 2020/21.
- Nebraska junior wing Shamiel Stevenson, who began his college career at Pitt announced on Twitter that he’s entering the 2021 NBA draft and intends to hire an agent. Stevenson, who averaged 5.5 PPG and 2.4 RPG in a reserve role for the Cornhuskers, doesn’t project to be drafted.
- We’ve also added the following players, who declared for the draft in recent weeks, to our list of early entrants:
- Isaiah Adams, F, UCF (freshman) (link via Instagram)
- Fardaws Aimaq, F/C, Utah Valley (sophomore) (link via TheProvince.com)
- Giorgi Bezhanishvili, F, Illinois (junior) (link via Instagram)
- Pedro Bradshaw, G/F, Bellarmine (junior) (link via WDRB.com)
- Darius Days, F, LSU (junior) (link via Instagram)
- Tyson Etienne, G, Wichita State (sophomore) (link via Twitter)
- Damion Rosser, G, New Orleans (junior) (link via WGNO.com)
- Jaden Shackelford, G, Alabama (sophomore) (link via Instagram)
- C.J. Walker, F, UCF (sophomore) (link via Twitter)
- Romeo Weems, F, DePaul (sophomore) (link via Instagram)
- Eric Williams Jr. , G/F, Oregon (junior) (link via Twitter)
Pacific Notes: LeBron, Suns, Beverley, Warriors
After leaving Sunday’s game midway through the fourth quarter due to a sore right ankle, Lakers star LeBron James will miss the club’s game on Monday vs. Denver as a result of the same issue, tweets Shams Charania of The Athletic. James’ status for L.A.’s next game – against the Clippers on Thursday – is uncertain, Charania adds.
The fact that LeBron will miss tonight’s game isn’t a major surprise, despite the fact that the Lakers are fighting to secure the fifth or sixth seed in the West. After last night’s game, the four-time MVP suggested that getting healthy was more of a priority than chasing regular season wins down the stretch.
“It doesn’t matter at the end of the day (where the Lakers land in the standings) if I’m not 100% or close to 100%,” James said, per Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
Here’s more from around the Pacific:
- While Suns owner Robert Sarver has faced plenty of criticism over the years for the way he has run the franchise, it appears he got it right when he hired first-time general manager James Jones to run the team’s front office, as Jabari Young of CNBC writes. “The thing about Robert that has not changed or ever will change is his passion and his desire to win and his commitment to winning,” Suns CEO Jason Rowley said. “He’s gotten better and matured as an owner, as anybody does in a position that’s new to them.”
- Clippers guard Patrick Beverley, who has been out since April 8 due to a fractured hand, was able to do 5-on-5 work in practice, according to head coach Tyronn Lue, who said the team will see how Beverley’s hand responds before providing an update on his status (Twitter link via Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN). If Beverley feels good, he should be on track to return to action later this week.
- With Minnesota playing well as of late, Ethan Strauss of The Athletic explores whether there’s a chance that the Warriors could end up with a better shot at a top-five pick with their own first-rounder than with the Timberwolves’ selection.
Cavaliers Granted Hardship Exception
2:31pm: The Cavaliers have been granted a hardship exception, tweets Kelsey Russo of The Athletic.
1:04pm: The Cavaliers have formally applied for a hardship exception, reports Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com (Twitter link).
Unlike a disabled player exception – which gives teams extra cap flexibility and can only be used to replace a player who suffers a season-ending injury – a hardship exception allows a team to add a 16th player to its 15-man roster on a short-term basis. It can be granted by the league if a club has at least four players who have missed three or more games due to injury or illness and are expected to be out for at least two more weeks.
In Cleveland’s case, Dylan Windler (knee), Taurean Prince (ankle), and Matthew Dellavedova (neck) have all been sidelined for more than three games and are expected to miss the rest of the season. Larry Nance Jr. (thumb), Isaiah Hartenstein (concussion), and Lamar Stevens (concussion) have also missed the team’s last four games. Presumably, the Cavs expect at least one of Nance, Hartenstein, and Stevens to be out for the year as well, since the regular season ends in two weeks.
Assuming their request is granted, the Cavs intend to use the extra roster spot to sign veteran center Anderson Varejão. Varejão hasn’t played in the NBA since the 2016/17 season, but Cleveland wants to give the 38-year-old an opportunity to play his final professional minutes with the franchise with which he spent more than a decade from 2004-16.
If the Cavs receive a hardship exception early in the week, the expectation is that Varejão will sign a 10-day contract.