Hornets forward Michael Kidd-Gilchrist is in the NBA’s concussion protocol and will not play in the team’s preseason game on Tuesday, Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer reports. This is at least the second time in his career that Kidd-Gilchrist has suffered a concussion. He endured one during his rookie season in 2013. When Kidd-Gilchrist returns, his role will change, Bonnell notes. New coach James Borrego will play him primarily at power forward and he’ll likely be on the second unit.
We have more from around the Southeast Division:
- The Magic’s Steve Clifford has been impressed by how rookie big man Mohamed Bamba has picked up the coach’s schematic concepts, John Denton of the team’s website reports. Bamba, the No. 6 overall pick, made his preseason debut on Monday. “He said, `I’m watching this game and all I’m looking at are what their coverages are like and what they’re running for offense,’” Clifford told Denton. “People can get excited about (Bamba’s) length and that shows his physical talent, but he’s a smart guy. And I do think he has a real affection for the game.”
- Heat center Hassan Whiteside will struggle to get enough playing time regardless of how well he plays, Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel opines in his latest mailbag. If Kelly Olynyk and Bam Adebayo receive rotation minutes, Whiteside will have to make do with fewer minutes than he’s played in the past. When James Johnson returns from a sports hernia that has limited him to non-contact drills in practice, getting Whiteside adequate playing time will be even more difficult, Winderman adds.
- Rookie Miles Bridges has played all three frontcourt positions during the team’s two preseason games, Bonnell notes in a separate story. He is averaging 16.5 PPG while shooting 59% from the field. “He picks things up quicker than I anticipated,” Borrego said. “His feel for the NBA game is much higher than I thought. He’s starting to figure out rhythm, screening action, terminology.”
I think if the Heat offered to take Dieng from Minnesota, it would make sense that the Heat offered Whiteside as part of the deal. I don’t see Whiteside, Dieng, and Adebayo together.
And Haslem!
Haslem played like 40 minutes total last year lol. He’s there for leadership.
Butler and Dieng to the Heat
Whiteside to the Kings
Richardson, Cauley-Stein, and Shumpert to the Wolves
(In $millions:)
Kings: in:25.4, out:15.7
Wolves: in:25.1, out:35.6
Heat: in:35.6, out:34.8 okay
Total: 86.1 = 86.1 okay
Good one except Kings need to send between 7.5 and 11.7 more to the Wolves. Koufos & Bogdan fit.
If Sacto likes Maclemore so much, and also has Hield & Yogi, they could lose Bogdan. Getting Whiteside and having Giles & Bagley means they can lose Koufos.
The Kings would also need a r1 mid/low pick to do it. From who?
3-team deals are hard to pull off though.
My first reaction was, “Yeah!” After a second look, though, I think that deal makes the Heat worse.
The salaries actually work out perfectly. The kings have approximately 11 million in cap space, meaning they gain a difference maker in Whiteside for virtually nothing. The heat get the best player in the deal in Butler and shed whiteside, for the small price of an extra year of Dieng (who is a capable starter and 10 mil per year cheaper). The wolves shed Dieng while getting Richardson as replacement and plenty of cap relief. No picks need to be exchanged.
I don’t see anyone taking Whiteside without the heat giving up a 1st. IMO