The Pacers announced today that Paul George would be available to play in Sunday’s contest against the Heat. George has missed nearly the entire 2014/15 season after breaking his right leg during an intra-squad scrimmage for Team USA last August. The 24-year-old had reportedly experienced soreness in his injured leg as he worked his way into game shape, but he has received medical clearance to play. “The recovery has been a long process and this is another step in the process,” George said. “I thank everyone, my family, friends, doctors, our training staff, coaches, the entire Pacers’ family for their support and encouragement. I’m excited, but at the same time I’m aware I’m still in a rehab stage and will continue to work to get back to full strength.” The Pacers are currently 1.5 games behind the Heat for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Here’s a rundown on the rest of the happenings from the week that was…
Signings
- The Knicks inked Ricky Ledo to a second 10-day contract.
- Lester Hudson signed a 10-day contract with the Clippers.
- The Blazers inked Tim Frazier for the remainder of the season.
- Sim Bhullar signed a 10-day deal with the Kings.
- The Lakers waived Steve Nash and signed Jabari Brown to a multiyear deal.
- Jerel McNeal inked a 10-day contract with the Suns.
- The Lakers signed point guard Dwight Buycks to a 10-day contract.
- Austin Daye signed a multiyear deal with the Hawks.
2015 NBA Draft News
- Louisville players Montrezl Harrell and Terry Rozier will enter the 2015 NBA draft.
- Georgia State junior R.J. Hunter will declare for the 2015 NBA draft.
- Texas big man Myles Turner will enter this year’s draft.
- France’s Timothé Luwawu-Cabarrot said he would withdraw his name from the 2015 Draft if he deems workouts with teams after the NBA season unsuccessful.
- UNLV freshman shooting guard Rashad Vaughn has signed with agent Omar Wilkes of Octagon Sports.
- Junior Walter Pitchford, a center for the University of Nebraska, intends to enter the 2015 NBA draft
- Georgetown junior shooting guard D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera has decided to enter the NBA draft.
- UCLA freshman power forward Kevon Looney is planning to declare for this year’s draft and is close to an agreement with an agent.
- LSU sophomore power forward Jordan Mickey will declare for this year’s draft.
- Vanderbilt big man Damian Jones has decided to return to Vanderbilt for a junior season rather than enter this year’s NBA draft.
- Syracuse freshman power forward Chris McCullough plans to enter this year’s draft despite having suffered a torn ACL back in January.
- Kelly Oubre, a Kansas freshman, is planning to enter this year’s draft.
- Maryland freshman point guard Melo Trimble has decided to remain in school for another year and won’t enter the 2015 draft.
- University of Houston junior guard Jherrod Stiggers will enter the draft.
- Eastern Washington junior shooting guard Tyler Harvey is declaring for this year’s draft.
- Arizona sophomore Rondae Hollis-Jefferson intends to enter the NBA draft.
- Murray State sophomore guard Cameron Payne plans to enter the 2015 NBA draft.
- Florida State junior Aaron Thomas will declare for this year’s NBA draft.
- Terran Petteway, a junior shooting guard from Nebraska, reportedly plans to declare for the 2015 draft. Petteway took to his private Twitter account to deny that he’s made a decision regarding the draft.
- North Carolina freshman small forward Justin Jackson will remain in school rather than enter the draft this year.
News/Rumors
- Dallas doesn’t intend to enter a bidding war for the services of Rajon Rondo, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer.
- Wolves big man Nikola Pekovic will undergo surgery next week to remove damage and repair his right Achilles tendon and he will miss the remainder of the season.
- The Nuggets and the Magic will target Florida coach Billy Donovan this summer to fill their potential coaching vacancies, should either team not retain its interim coach.
- The Nuggets claimed Ian Clark off of waivers from the Jazz.
- The Pelicans and coach Monty Williams reportedly haven’t spoken about a contract extension.
- Rockets guard Patrick Beverley will miss the rest of the season and the playoffs after deciding to go ahead and have surgery to repair ligaments in his left wrist. Houston intends to make a push to re-sign him this summer.
- The Magic intend to extend GM Rob Hennigan‘s contract beyond the 2015/16 season.
- The Knicks fired D-League coach Kevin Whitted and named assistant Craig Hodges his replacement on an interim basis.
- Kings advisor Chris Mullin is leaving Sacramento to take over as head coach of St. John’s University.
- Shabazz Napier underwent successful surgery to repair a sports hernia and is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season.
- The Pistons have expressed interest in re-signing center Joel Anthony.
- Two groups have emerged as favorites to purchase the Hawks.