Kevon Looney Showing He Can Contribute
Lakers guard Isaiah Thomas was facing a tough free agent market even before Wednesday’s announcement that he will have season-ending surgery on his right hip, according to Chris Mannix of Yahoo Sports.
Only a few teams have the cap room available to give Thomas the kind of contract he was expecting, and most of them aren’t good fits. The Sixers already have Markelle Fultz, the Mavericks are set with rookie Dennis Smith Jr. and the rebuilding Bulls and Hawks aren’t likely to invest heavily in a 29-year-old guard with serious injury concerns.
“No one is going long there [with a deal], in all likelihood,” former Cavaliers GM David Griffin said. “[The hip] is a very significant factor. His whole game is predicated upon quickness and creating shot separation. If he can’t do that, he is a small non-defender.”
The Lakers have expressed interest in re-signing Thomas, but that’s only if they strike out on their primary targets in free agency.
There’s more news from the Pacific Division:
- Lonzo Ball will have an MRI on his left knee today, but the Lakers rookie isn’t overly concerned about the results, relays Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN. Ball had to leave last night’s game after being kneed in the back of the leg in the third quarter. “It wasn’t in the spot that I previously hurt that caused me to miss a lot of games, so I wasn’t too worried about it,” Ball said. “It’s just kind of like a bruise. It just hurts, but I should be back soon.”
- The Kings believe injured rookie Harry Giles has a bright future, but that won’t stop them from drafting a big man if they get an early lottery pick, writes Jason Jones of The Sacramento Bee. Giles, who has sat out the entire season after undergoing three knee operations in four years, tells Alex Kramers of NBA.com he knows he will eventually get a chance to prove himself. “I know that my time is coming,” he said. “It’s not like I’m [thinking], ‘I might not play. I might not do this or do that.’ I know it’s about just me working and getting better. I have to look at it like it’s only getting me ready for when my time really comes.”
- Kevon Looney is making the most of his playing time with the injury-ravaged Warriors, writes Monte Poole of NBC Bay Area. The third-year power forward/center has finally gotten past the hip problems that required surgery early in his career. “He’s always had that game,” said teammate Andre Iguodala. “But the NBA is all about that confidence and opportunity. He’s feeling better, too. But even when he was hurting with his hips, I could always see his game.”
Durant, Whiteside Set To Return From Injuries On Thursday
Two injured stars are set to return from injuries on Thursday, according to reports. Kevin Durant is expected to get back on the court for the Warriors vs. Milwaukee, while Heat center Hassan Whiteside is on track to play against Chicago.
Chris Haynes of ESPN has the details on Durant, who has been sidelined for the last two weeks with a right rib injury. As Haynes writes, head coach Steve Kerr said his star forward will “probably” be activated for the game against the Bucks, while Durant offered a more emphatic update. “You can tell them I’m playing Thursday,” the reigning NBA Finals MVP told ESPN.
With all four of their All-Stars battling various ailments, the Warriors have been slumping — Tuesday’s loss to Indiana represented the club’s sixth loss in nine games. However, reinforcements appear to be on the way. Draymond Green, who missed Tuesday’s game with flu-like symptoms, seems close to returning, and Klay Thompson said on Tuesday that he should be back “soon” too, adding that he’ll probably just miss “one or two more games” (Twitter link via Janie McCauley of The Associated Press).
Meanwhile, in Miami, Whiteside has been on the shelf for nearly three weeks, last playing for the Heat on March 8. According to Ira Winderman of The South Florida Sun Sentinel, Whiteside was pushing to return on Tuesday from his hip flexor injury, but Thursday now looks like the target date. The veteran center will participate in Wednesday’s practice, and if he looks good, he’s expected to be activated the next day.
The Heat have held their own up front during Whiteside’s absence, with Bam Adebayo handling starting duties and Kelly Olynyk playing well off the bench. However, Adebayo is currently dealing with an injury of his own – his sprained ankle forced Jordan Mickey into the starting lineup on Tuesday – so Whiteside’s return will come at a good time.
Curry Remains Interested In Stake In Carolina Panthers
- While returning from his knee injury is Stephen Curry‘s top priority at the moment, the Warriors star is “definitely” still interested in getting involved in an ownership group for the NFL’s Carolina Panthers, Connor Letourneau of SFGate.com writes.
Kerr: Stephen Curry To Miss First Round Of Playoffs
The Warriors will be without two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Stephen Curry for the first round of the playoffs, head coach Steve Kerr told reporters, including The Athletic’s Anthony Slater (Twitter link).
“There’s no way he’s playing in the first round, there’s no way,” Kerr said. “He’s being reevaluated in three weeks. We have to be ready to play without him and then see how he’s coming along. Good thing is we’ve been through this, we went through it last year with [Kevin Durant].”
Curry returned to the court on Friday after he missed six games with an ankle injury. However, in the third quarter, teammate JaVale McGee landed on Curry’s left leg after a block attempt, forcing him to exit the game. He was initially diagnosed with a left MCL sprain and an MRI revealed a grade 2 left MCL sprain. The prognosis was for Curry to be reevaluated in three weeks.
Curry spoke to reporters after Kerr and said he hopes to be back in time for the first round despite Kerr’s prognosis (Twitter link).
“Hopefully I prove what coach said wrong and put myself in position to get back as soon as possible,” Curry said.
In 51 games this season, Curry has averaged 26.4 PPG, 6.1 APG, and 5.1 RPG.
NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 3/25/18
Here are Sunday’s G League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
- The Rockets have recalled center Zhou Qi from the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, Jonathan Feigen of the Houston Chronicle tweets. The 7’1” center has made 14 brief appearances with the Rockets this season. He’s averaging 11.0 PPG, 6.3 RPG and 2.3 BPG in G League play.
- The Raptors recalled forward Nigel Hayes from their Raptors 905 affiliate, the team’s media relations staff tweets. Hayes has appeared in 43 G League games this season, averaging 15.0 PPG and 6.1 RPG. He’s also made two cameo appearances for Toronto, which signed him to a second 10-day contract on March 16th.
- The Timberwolves recalled rookie center Justin Patton from their Iowa affiliate, according to Jerry Zgoda of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The 7-footer averaged 12.7 PPG, 5.4 RPG and 1.4 BPG for the Iowa Wolves, who did not qualify for the G League playoffs. Patton has yet to make his NBA debut.
- The Warriors recalled Damian Jones from the Santa Cruz Warriors, the team announced in a press release. The center has averaged 15.0 points and 8.1 boards in 44 games with the affiliate. Also, two-way forward Chris Boucher has also been recalled from Santa Cruz. He appeared in one game with the Warrior.
- The Suns recalled veteran big man Alan Williams from their G League affiliate, the Northern Arizona Suns, as part of his rehab process in returning from a torn right meniscus, per an official press release.
Warriors Notes: Cook, Curry, Green, Durant
In the wake of Stephen Curry‘s latest injury, the Warriors need to add two-way player Quinn Cook to their roster before the postseason, writes Chris Haynes of ESPN. The second-year point guard has made the most of his time with Golden State, averaging 6.9 points in 23 games. He has been extremely productive lately, reaching double figures in his last five contests, including a career high of 28 points.
With the G League regular season now over, Cook’s 45-day NBA limit is no longer a concern. However, he cannot be on the playoff roster unless the Warriors convert his contract to a full NBA deal by April 10, the day before the season ends. Golden State doesn’t have an available roster spot, so someone would have to be waived. Sources tell Haynes that the team hasn’t discussed such a move with Cook’s representatives.
“I want to secure a guaranteed deal,” he said. “I know I’m an NBA player, and I want to continuing proving that.”
There’s more Warriors news this morning:
- In an interview with HoopsHype, Cook said he is more focused on a strong finish to the regular season than the roster decision. “Obviously if it were to happen, I’d be grateful, I’d be thankful,” Cook said of being activated for the postseason. “But if it doesn’t, I’ll still be with the team during the playoffs and practicing with the guys and still learning. It’s not something that I’ve been thinking about. Whatever happens happens, and I’ll be grateful either way.”
- After being injured Friday, Curry spent time after the game talking to Cook about his new role with the team, according to Mark Medina of The San Jose Mercury News. It’s a continuation of the mentoring role Curry has adopted since Cook’s first call-up to the Warriors in December. “He’d literally sit down with me before every game and at halftime and tell me what he would see,” Cook said. “We developed a great friendship and mentorship along the season.”
- Curry’s MRI results dominated the headlines Saturday, but the Warriors have much better news regarding their other injured stars, relays Anthony Slater of The Athletic. Draymond Green has recovered from a pelvic contusion that he suffered Monday and should play in today’s game, while Kevin Durant is expected back from a rib cartilage fracture by the middle of the week. Klay Thompson will be out a little longer with a fractured right thumb, but Slater expects them to have about five games together before the season ends.
Stephen Curry Suffers MCL Sprain; Out Three Weeks
2:53pm: Per Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Curry suffered a Grade 2 MCL sprain and will be reevaluated in three weeks.
Anthony Slater of The Athletic adds that a Grade 2 sprain is worse than the injury Curry suffered in the 2016 playoffs, forcing him to miss 15 days, and that a Grade 2 sprain generally causes a player to miss 4-6 weeks.
8:33am: Warriors point guard Stephen Curry suffered a left MCL sprain in Friday’s win over the Hawks and he is set to undergo an MRI later today, per the team’s public relations department (Twitter link).
The two-time Most Valuable Player scored 29 points and grabbed 7 boards in 25 minutes on Friday. Curry suffered the MCL injury late in the third quarter when teammate JaVale McGee — attempting a block — fell onto Curry’s left knee. He left the game and never returned.
Curry had missed Golden State’s previous six games due to a right ankle injury. The Warriors’ second-leading scorer had a minor limp but was in good spirits inside the team’s locker room after the game, tweets ESPN’s Chris Haynes.
“Well, at least it’s not my ankle,” Curry said.
In 51 games this season, Curry has averaged 26.4 PPG, 6.1 APG, and 5.1 RPG.
The Warriors have been conservative with their star players as injuries mounted with Kevin Durant (rib fracture), Draymond Green (pelvic contusion) and Klay Thompson (thumb fracture) sidelined.
Depending on the results of today’s MRI, it could put the Warriors in a precarious position with the playoffs three weeks away. Golden State is four games back of the Rockets for the top seed in the Western Conference with 10 games left. Chasing Houston for first place with a depleted roster is less of a concern than having the five-time All-Star healthy for the postseason.
“We’ll see what the MRI says tomorrow,” head coach Steve Kerr said, per ESPN. “There’s not a lot we can do or predict. Kind of a strange, cruel twist of fate, you know. He rehabs his ankle for the last couple of weeks, gets that strong, and then the knee goes. So we’ll see what happens. Keep our fingers crossed.”
Quinn Cook Wants To Remain With Warriors Long-Term
The Warriors have hit a rough patch with injuries as their four All-Stars – Stephen Curry (ankle), Klay Thompson (thumb), Kevin Durant (rib), and even Draymond Green (midsection) – have all been sidelined recently. From the trio of Curry, Durant, and Thompson, Curry is closest to returning, ESPN’s Chris Haynes writes.
“I think Steph is closer to playing than KD and Klay,” Warriors head coach Steve Kerr said. “…We’re going to be cautious with all of them. … This is not like a timetable of two to three days. It’s just more of a feel thing.”
Golden State owns second place in the Western Conference, four games behind the Rockets. With a postseason spot wrapped up, the Warriors by all indications will focus on getting their core players healthy rather than push for the first seed.
- Battling injuries, the Warriors have relied on their bench to shoulder the load. Undrafted point guard Quinn Cook, who has bounced around the league the last few seasons, has been a pleasant surprise for Golden State. In his last three games, Cook has finished with 20+ points. Cook hopes to remain with the team long-term and the interest is mutual, Monte Poole of NBC Sports Bay Area tweets. “I would love to be with this team for the next 10 years of my career,” Cook said.
- Cook has also received help from Curry via a text message at halftime during the Warriors‘ matchup against the Suns last Saturday, Melissa Rohlin of The Mercury News relays. Cook struggled in the first half, but a text from the two-time MVP helped him finish with a career-high 28 points.“I don’t care if you go zero-for-25, that 26th shot you better not hesitate,” Curry said in the text, per Cook.
NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 3/21/18
Here are Wednesday’s G League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
- The Magic recalled 10-day contract recipient Rodney Purvis to their G League affiliate, the Lakeland Magic, per an official tweet from the team. Purvis, 24, has averaged 20.6 PPG, 4.0 RPG, and 3.6 APG in 37 G League games this season.
- Lakers‘ rookie big man Thomas Bryant has been recalled from the South Bay Lakers, the team announced today. Bryant, 20, has averaged 19.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 2.1 APG in 34 G League games this season.
- The Warriors have assigned Damian Jones to the Santa Cruz Warriors, tweets Mark Medina of The Mercury News. The center has averaged 15.0 points and 8.0 boards in 43 games with the affiliate. Also, two-way forward Chris Boucher has also been assigned to Santa Cruz. He appeared in one game with the Warriors.
And-Ones: Playoff Format, Billups, Future Power Rankings
Don’t expect LeBron James to be among those lobbying on behalf of a potential play-in tournament for a postseason berth. The NBA has reportedly kicked the idea around in a couple different variations, but James said today that he’s not a fan of the concept, as Dave McMenamin of ESPN.com details.
“No, no, no,” James said. “That’s wack. That’s wack. Why? You got to earn your spot to be in the postseason. No consolation for finishing last. That’s corny. That’s corny. That’s wack. To play for what? What are they playing for?”
While there’s a belief in some league circles that a play-in tournament at the end of the regular season to determine the seventh and eighth seeds in each conference would generate some drama, James is a firm believer that the eight teams with the best records in each conference deserve to make the playoffs.
“[Make the playoffs by winning the tournament], even if my record is better than yours? Nah, that’s wack,” James said.
Here are more odds and ends from around the basketball world:
- Appearing on ESPN’s The Jump on Tuesday, Chauncey Billups called a report about the Pistons expressing interest in him for a front office role “100% false,” per Rod Beard of The Detroit News. “I haven’t spoken to anybody with the organization about the possibility,” Billups said. Still, this isn’t the first time Billups has been linked to a front office job — if the former NBA guard does land somewhere as an executive, former Pistons assistant GM George David would be a candidate to potentially join him, tweets Vince Ellis of The Detroit Free Press.
- Nine NBA teams have been officially eliminated from the postseason. While the 2017/18 season has been a fairly forgettable one for those clubs, Kevin O’Connor of The Ringer highlights some silver linings worth mentioning.
- Over at ESPN.com (Insider link), Kevin Pelton and Bobby Marks have updated their future NBA power rankings, which consider each team’s outlook through the 2020/21 season. Unsurprisingly, the Warriors, Celtics, and Rockets still top their list, with the Sixers and Raptors jumping into the top five.