Kyle Lowry Returns To Court For Raptors
Kyle Lowry will suit up for the Raptors in their game against the Pistons tonight and he’ll do so without any minutes restriction, according to Michael Grange of Rogers Sportsnet (Twitter link). Lowry hasn’t played since the All-Star break because of a wrist injury.
The point guard did some light shooting earlier this week and at the time he said his goal was to be ready by playoff time. He told reporters that he still had pain in his wrist, but added that he wouldn’t need medical clearance to play.
“No no no. It’s me, Kyle Lowry, who’s going to clear me. That’s who’s going to clear me,” Lowry said.
Lowry was playing exceptional basketball prior to being sidelined, as I detailed in an early season edition of Fantasy Hoops. The 3-time All-Star was averaging 22.8 points, 6.9 assists, and 4.8 rebounds per game while shooting 41.7% from behind the arc on nearly eight attempts per contest. He was also sporting a career-high 23.0 player efficiency rating and had true shooting percentage of 62.4%, which is also the best in his career.
NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 4/3/17
Here are Monday’s D-League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
- The Raptors have assigned Bruno Caboclo and Pascal Siakam to the Raptors 905, the team’s D-League affiliate, according to their Twitter feed. Siakam is one of the many 2016 first-round picks who have seen action in the D-League this season, as Luke Adams of Hoops Rumors detailed.
- The Cavaliers have assigned Kay Felder to the Canton Charge, according to the team’s Twitter feed. The rookie has appeared in 11 games for Cleveland’s D-League affiliate, scoring 29.9 points per contest.
- The Clippers have recalled Brice Johnson from the Salt Lake City Stars, Brad Turner of the Los Angeles Times relays (Twitter link). Los Angeles doesn’t have its own D-League affiliate, so Johnson played for the Stars via the flex assignment rule.
Kyle Lowry Practices; Return Date Still Uncertain
Raptors point guard Kyle Lowry, who has been sidelined since the All-Star break by a right wrist injury, participated in practice today, tweets Josh Lewenburg of TSN Sports.
Lowry only did some “light shooting” with his right hand, but it’s still a significant step for a player that Toronto will need in the postseason. An All-Star the past three years, Lowry was averaging 22.8 points and 6.9 assists per game at the time of the injury. He said the decision on when to return will be up to him. (Twitter link).
Coach Dwane Casey offered few clues as to how Lowry looked today, but Lewenburg says it’s clear that he is making progress (Twitter link). “I’m not going to get into specifics on when Kyle’s coming back, what did he do today, did he use the bathroom this morning,” Casey said (Twitter link).
Lowry told reporters that he has set a goal to be ready by playoff time (Twitter link). He still has pain in the wrist and would like to be fully healed before he plays again. Lowry, who underwent surgery February 28th, said he remains on schedule with doctors’ original projections of four to six weeks. He has ruled himself out of Tuesday’s game at Indiana. (Twitter link).
Asked if he has to get medical clearance, Lowry responded, “No no no. It’s me, Kyle Lowry, who’s going to clear me. That’s who’s going to clear me.” (Twitter link)
NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 3/31/17
Here are Friday’s D-League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
- A day after sending them down, the Raptors have recalled Bruno Caboclo, Pascal Siakam, and Fred VanVleet from the D-League, the team announced today (Twitter link). VanVleet and Siakam led the way with 24 and 22 points respectively in a Raptors 905 win on Thursday night.
- Maurice Ndour and Marshall Plumlee also returned to the NBA a day after being assigned to the D-League, the Knicks announced (via Twitter). Plumlee had a double-double for the Westchester Knicks in a loss on Thursday, with 11 points and 11 boards.
- The Grizzlies have recalled forward Jarell Martin from the D-League, according to a press release issued by the team. Martin’s assignment with the Iowa Energy lasted more than a month. For the season, he has averaged 15.9 PPG and 7.5 RPG in 22 games with Memphis’ D-League affiliate.
- The Pacers have assigned rookie forward Georges Niang to their D-League squad, the team announced today in a press release. It’s the fourth assignment to the Fort Wayne Mad Ants this season for Niang.
NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 3/30/17
Here are Thursday’s D-League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
- The Raptors have assigned Bruno Caboclo, Pascal Siakam, and Fred VanVleet to their D-League affiliate, the team announced today (via Twitter). The trio will be in action tonight for the Raptors 905, who lead the NBADL’s Eastern Conference with a 37-11 record.
- The Knicks have sent rookie bigs Maurice Ndour and Marshall Plumlee to the D-League, the team announced today (via Twitter). Ndour and Plumlee will suit up tonight for the Westchester Knicks in their game against the Grand Rapids Drive, Detroit’s D-League affiliate.
Raptors Will Try To Bring Lowry Back
Kyle Lowry, who’s been sidelined since the All-Star break because of a wrist injury, can become a free agent at the season. Raptors GM Masai Ujiri said there’s “no question” that the team will try to bring him back, as Scott Stinson of The National Post passes along.
It’s also arguable that out of all the teams to see a player go down due to injury, the Raptors suffered the biggest loss with Lowry being sidelined. The 31-year-old was the team’s leader in player efficiency and he was one of the best from behind the arc, which I detailed in an early season edition of Fantasy Hoops.
- Holly MacKenzie of NBA.com examines how P.J. Tucker has helped the Raptors stay afloat in the Eastern Conference. Tucker, who came to Toronto at this year’s deadline, will be a free agent at the season.
Fans Welcome Terrence Ross Back To Toronto
- Terrence Ross, who was sent to the Magic in that deal, got a friendly reception from the fans Monday in his return to Toronto, according to Mike Ganter of The Toronto Sun. The 26-year-old swingman spent four and a half seasons with the Raptors.
Jerry Stackhouse A Head Coaching Candidate
- In a piece for ESPN.com, Kevin Arnovitz identifies five head coaching prospects to watch, including Raptors 905 coach Jerry Stackhouse, Hawks assistant Darvin Ham, and TNT analyst Brent Barry.
NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 3/29/17
Here are Wednesday’s D-League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:
- Point guard Cameron Payne is back with the Bulls, having been recalled from the D-League following Windy City’s win on Tuesday, the club announced today in a press release. Payne was instrumental in last night’s win, scoring a team-high 20 points to go along with nine assists, five rebounds, and five steals.
- The Rockets have sent Troy Williams and Isaiah Taylor to the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, according to Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle, who notes (via Twitter) that rookie big man Chinanu Onuaku will stay on the NBA roster to start the team’s road trip.
- The Raptors have recalled Bruno Caboclo and Pascal Siakam from their D-League affiliate, the team announced today (via Twitter). Neither the Raptors nor the Raptors 905 are in action until Thursday, so we’ll see if the duo sticks with the NBA club for that game.
NBA D-League Assignments/Recalls: 3/28/17
Check out Tuesday’s D-League assignment and recalls from around the league:
- The Raptors have assigned Bruno Caboclo, Pascal Siakam and Fred VanVleet to the Raptors 905, per the team’s Twitter feed. Toronto has since recalled Van Fleet (Twitter feed).
- The Knicks have assigned Maurice Ndour, Marshall Plumlee and Chasson Randle to the Westchester Knicks, according to the team’s Twitter feed. Each of the three players saw one minute of NBA action on Monday in New York’s win over Detroit.
- The Bulls have assigned Cameron Payne to the Windy City Bulls, according to a team press release. Payne, who was sent to Chicago in the Taj Gibson deal, has seen 140 minutes with the NBA club since arriving in town.