Draymond Green Suffers Finger Injury; To Be On Minutes Restriction
The Warriors‘ nightmare season continued on Friday night as mainstay Draymond Green suffered a sprained left index finger. Green’s hand was wrapped following the 127-110 loss to the Spurs as he revealed his immediate future is uncertain.
“I hurt my finger. Ligament action. But it is what it is. … I don’t know [about Saturday]; we’ll see,” Green said (via ESPN’s Nick Friedell) It’s pretty sore. I couldn’t grip the ball the whole entire [game], probably since the second quarter. Which is why I was making a lot of one-handed, right-handed passes and dribbling left with my right hand…”
While it remains to be seen how limited Green will be, losing another key part of their core has stymied the Warriors’ playoff aspirations. Golden State lost two-time NBA MVP Stephen Curry for at least three months due to a broken left hand. Fellow All-Star Klay Thompson is expected to miss the entire 2019/20 campaign due to a torn ACL.
When Green signed a lucrative four-year extension with the Warriors earlier this summer, it was hard to envision a dreadful 1-4 start, even with Thompson’s absence and Kevin Durant‘s departure. However, now the focus may shift toward the future — head coach Steve Kerr has already indicated that Green’s playing time will be scaled back.
“The one thing we won’t do is run [Green] into the ground,” Kerr said. “We have to maintain a good schedule with Draymond minutes-wise and games-wise. If he’s banged up, we should make sure we take care of him.”
Green played 34 minutes on Friday night, and Kerr suggested he’d prefer not to have his star big man exceed that number, as Friedell relays.
“Not more than that,” Kerr said. “I definitely don’t want to drive him up to the 40-minute mark. That’s too much. We got a back-to-back; we play again tomorrow. We’ll just sort of take it game by game and see how he’s doing.”
Kyrie Irving: Nets Will Take Over New York City
Kyrie Irving‘s first two games have been nothing short of spectacular. After dropping 50 points in his debut on Wednesday in a loss to the Timberwolves, Irving followed that with a 26-point effort along with the game-winner over New York.
After choosing the Nets over the Knicks in free agency, Irving has been vocal about how happy he is to be back home in the tri-state area. As Brooklyn seeks a playoff spot and a possible championship, Irving sees the Nets overtaking the Knicks for New York City supremacy.
“We’re dressed in that all-black all year. We got a lot, a lot of goals to accomplish this season,” Irving told fans at a promotional event Thursday, per Stefan Bondy of the New York Daily News. “The team is excited. Obviously we know in the months to follow, we got a sleeping, sleeping monster that’s on our team right there.”
The Nets won’t be at full strength until next year when Kevin Durant, who is recovering from a torn Achilles, is expected to suit up, While it’s possible Durant plays later this year, the Nets are focused on this season and being successful without KD in the lineup.
“…But for the time being, we’re going to take over the whole entire city. It’s about us,” Irving said.
Antetokounmpo: No Interest In Befriending All-Stars
Giannis Antetokounmpo has taken the NBA by storm, emerging from his native Greece and developing into the league’s reigning Most Valuable Player. The Bucks big man helped lead Milwaukee to the Eastern Conference Finals a year ago and made the team a championship contender for the foreseeable future.
However, the ‘Greek Freak’ is also not interested in becoming too friendly with fellow All-Stars around the league. Sam Amick of The Athletic examined Antetokounmpo’s thinking in a lengthy feature, noting his desire to be his own player.
“Man, it’s not that I don’t want to (learn from other stars). I get better every day,” he said. “I’ll learn from the 15th player on our team. I’ll learn from (Bucks reserve guard) Frank Mason. But my competitive nature is so high that when I go and practice (with other stars), I can’t do it. That’s me.”
In an age where All-Stars with longstanding friendships seek to form super-teams, it appears that Antetokounmpo is set in his own ways. He added that he did not receive an invitation to Kobe Bryant‘s camp earlier this summer and that he preferred not to be around other All-Stars.
“I’m not saying it’s right, but that’s me,” he said. “I just know myself. I know that because I’m a nice person, I’m going to start building relationships (with those other stars). And then I’m going to go against those guys, and they’re going to be my friends.
“… I want to play for 20 years and just play, and then make friendships at the end.”
Anthony Davis On Playing Center: “I Don’t Mind Doing It”
The Lakers recorded their first win of the season on Friday night and offseason acquisition Anthony Davis played a significant role in that outcome. The big man totaled 21 points, seven rebounds and five blocks as part of the 95-86 victory over Utah.
In the second half, Davis saw significant minutes at the center position, an in-game adjustment he discussed with head coach Frank Vogel.
“If it makes sense, then obviously I don’t mind doing it,” Davis said after the win (per ESPN’s Dave McMenamin). “And it made sense tonight.”
This a change from Davis’ comments earlier in the summer after the Lakers swung a deal to acquire the longtime Pelicans superstar. Primarily a power forward during his career, Davis made it clear at his introductory presser that he preferred playing the four.
“I like playing the four, I’m not even going to sugarcoat it. I like playing the four, I don’t really like playing the five,” Davis said at the time (per SB Nation).
It’ll be key to monitor how much time Davis — who can hit free agency next summer — sees at the center position this season.
Hawks Sign Mark Ogden Jr.
The Hawks have signed forward Mark Ogden Jr., the team announced in a press release on Saturday.
Ogden has spent the past three seasons overseas, spending time with the Georgian team Olimpa (2017-19) and in Luxembourg with Racing Lux (2016-17). the Spring Valley native spent two years at Grossmont College before he transferred to Dixie State for two seasons. Ogden’s time at Dixie State included Pac West Defensive Player of the Year honors.
Atlanta’s signing of Ogden is geared toward getting his G League rights rather than adding him to the regular-season roster. Ogden will likely suit up for the College Park Skyhawks.
Cavaliers Waive Marques Bolden
The Cavaliers have waived former Duke big man Marques Bolden, tweets Kelsey Russo of The Athletic. Bolden had been in training camp with Cleveland on an Exhibit 10 deal.
Bolden, 21, appeared in four preseason games for the Cavaliers and had a generally strong performance. He averaged 4.0 PPG and 2.8 RPG while shooting nearly 80 percent from the field.
Bolden spent three seasons at Duke but didn’t see a lot of playing time during his first two seasons. He averaged a mere 19.0 minutes per game as a junior.
While it’s not necessarily set in stone yet, waiving Bolden clears the path for Jarell Martin to be Cavs’ 14th man and for the recently-claimed Tyler Cook to be the team’s second two-way player.
Southwest Notes: Anthony, Harden, Westbrook, Belinelli, Payton
Carmelo Anthony has not been on an NBA roster since last November when his Rockets tenure abruptly ended after a 10-game stint. Ever since then, Anthony has been searching for one more opportunity to prolong his Hall of Fame career — which has yet to arise.
In an in-depth feature, ESPN’s Baxter Holmes examines Anthony’s situation from the day he was cut to the present. Carmelo’s story is one of a declining star who has struggled to adjust from his usual role of a primary scorer to a role player.
Holmes also spoke to several team sources who noted that Anthony’s reputation exceeded his current abilities, which put Houston in a tough situation.
Check out more Southwest Division notes:
- The Rockets‘ major storyline this season will be the reunion of James Harden and Russell Westbrook, as observers keep a close eye on how the two former MVPs play together. Harden says both superstars will need to rely on each other for the team to succeed, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle writes. “At the end of the day, we need each other,” Harden said. “This thing won’t work without each other.”
- In his second tour of duty with the Rockets, Ryan Anderson, primarily known as a long-range shooter, may see significant time at center, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle writes. “It’s definitely a role we talked about here,” Anderson said. “I think it’s something I can be really effective at. This team can play in a lot of different ways. I think center could be a good title now.”
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Knicks point guard Elfrid Payton said the Pelicans were interested in bringing him back but the situation in New York fit him better, Marc Berman of the New York Post writes. “They asked me to come back,’’ Payton said. “I just felt this was a better situation. It was a better fit. [The acquisition of Lonzo Ball] had no effect. I’m not afraid of competition.’’
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Spurs shooting guard Marco Belinelli misses former assistant coach Ettore Messina, who left San Antonio this past summer to become the head coach of Italian team Pallacanestro Olimpia Milano, Tom Orsborn of the San Antonio Express-News writes. “For sure, I miss him. He was very happy here in San Antonio, but I am really happy for him,” Belinelli said.
Spurs Waive Daulton Hommes
The Spurs have waived forward Daulton Hommes, the team announced in a press release on Saturday. Hommes appeared in four preseason contests for San Antonio.
After going undrafted, Hommes, 23, appeared in four games with the Bucks during NBA Summer League action, averaging 8.8 PPG and 1.6 RPG. The Point Loma Nazarene University product averaged 21.0 PPG and 5.8 RPG as a senior, earning NABC Division II National Player of the Year honors.
He was inked to an Exhibit 10 contract by the Spurs in mid-August.
By waiving Hommes, the Spurs have reduced their roster total to the regular-season limit of 15 players on standard deals and two on two-way contracts.
Salah Mejri Signs With Real Madrid
OCTOBER 10: Real Madrid has formally announced that Mejri will join the club until the end of the 2019/20 season.
OCTOBER 5: Tunisian big man Salah Mejri is reportedly finalizing a deal to join the European team Real Madrid, as first reported by El Espanol’s Jorge Calabres.
Mejri had inked a temporary contract with Liaoning of the Chinese Basketball Association in September to replace the injured Brandon Bass, per the report. However, Mejri had been seeking another opportunity in the NBA or a chance to play in Europe. Mejri is currently in Dallas awaiting the completion of his Real Madrid deal, the report notes.
The 33-year-old has spent the past four years as a rotation piece for the Mavericks. The 7’2″ center enjoyed his best year during the 2016/17 campaign, averaging 2.9 PPG and 4.2 APG in 73 games.
Mejri suited up for Tunisia during the FIBA World Cup in China where he averaged 16.2 PPG and 10.2 RPG. He has previously played for Real Madrid in 2013 and 2015.
California Notes: Green, Harkless, Training Camp, Kings
The Warriors enter this season a slightly different version of the dominant Golden State squads from recent years. While mainstays Draymond Green, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson remain, the departure of Kevin Durant and a slew of new faces has changed the landscape in Oakland.
While Thompson’s outlook is unclear given his recovery from a torn ACL, the presence of Curry and Green — to go along with the new addition of D’Angelo Russell and others — keeps the Warriors in the discussion of top Western Conference teams. However, given the roster turnover, Green says adjusting to the new personnel has been a focal point early in training camp, ESPN’s Nick Fridell writes.
“Just the lack of familiarity,” Green said. “You get used to a certain thing for so long, and then it’s not that. The normal reads that you would make, just kind of second nature, you got to make sure they’re there. It’s just a lot more making sure everyone’s on the same page, or getting there. Everybody’s not on the same page, which is to be expected, so just getting everybody there is the difference.”
Check out more notes related to California teams:
- The change within the Warriors‘ organization has not been limited to just the players. Anthony Slater of The Athletic explores how Golden State’s coaching staff is getting acclimated, especially defensive specialist Ron Adams, who remained with the team but in a reduced role.
- Ethan Strauss of The Athletic writes that despite the perception of the Warriors acquiring Russell just to eventually trade him, Golden State is operating under the belief that the All-Star guard will be a fixture of the team for the future.
- Given the Clippers‘ active offseason, the addition of Maurice Harkless flew under the radar. However, now that training camp has begun, Harkless is hoping to stand out as an effective role player, Broderick Turner of the Los Angeles Times writes. “Like about a month ago when we first started meeting together as a coaching staff, you start thinking, ‘Oh, we got Mo Harkless.’ We have more on our team. And then you watch what he can do,” head coach Doc Rivers said.
- While superstars Kawhi Leonard and Paul George are set in stone, along with Patrick Beverley and Ivica Zubac as starters, other positions for the Clippers will feature training camp competition. Jovan Buha of The Athletic examines all the competition in L.A. and how the team’srotation may shake out.
- After finishing just outside the postseason picture last season, the Kings entered the offseason looking to acquire veteran players who have experience in a winning culture. As Jason Jones of The Athletic writes, the additions of Cory Joseph, Trevor Ariza and Dewayne Dedmon all aligned with that goal.