Marcus Smart is expected to join his Celtics teammates for practice tomorrow, according to Chris Forsberg of NBC Sports Boston. It will be Smart’s first on-court action since suffering an oblique tear last month.
Although Smart will be a full participant, the session won’t include contact as coach Brad Stevens plans to give the team a break ahead of Monday’s Game 4 against the Bucks.
“I’m going to talk to our training staff [on Saturday], and then, [Sunday], all indication is he will go through our practice,” Stevens said. “I’m writing up our practice plan now, and I don’t have any live drills on it, so if he does [contact work], it’ll probably be before or after practice, if that’s his next step.”
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- Former teammate Kevin McHale reached out to Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge after he suffered a mild heart attack this week, relays Steve Bulpett of The Boston Herald. McHale, who has previous front office experience with the Timberwolves, can relate to the pressure of running a team. “It’s a stressful job, but I would say Danny has probably got the best perspective of anyone in the league on that job and what’s going on,” McHale said. “… I think having Austin [his son is the Celtics’ director of player personnel] working there with him, I can just tell how much he enjoys it and how well they work together.”
- Gianluca Pascucci, who serves as director of global scouting for the Nets, is being considered for an executive position with AC Milano in Italy, but the organization may try to hold on to him, tweets NetsDaily. Pascucci could be a candidate for assistant GM in Brooklyn if Trajan Langdon leaves. Langdon was considered for front office positions with the Timberwolves and Pelicans and is rumored to be a candidate with the Wizards.
- Las Vegas oddsmakers are expecting a huge summer for the Knicks, writes David Purdum of ESPN. The SuperBook at Westgate Las Vegas has given New York 16-1 odds to win next season’s title, trailing just the Bucks, Celtics and Sixers in the East. Jeff Sherman, who oversees the Superbook’s NBA odds, told Purdum they are based on the Knicks being the favorites to land Kevin Durant in free agency. He adds that New York would be about a 300-1 shot without Durant.
lebron could force a trade to new york- zero chance durant sacrifices his golden yrs for a dumpster fire org
Well that sucks because NY is also a dumpster fire org
Being a Knicks fan I disagree. Isahai Thomas ruined our team and Dolan doesn’t help. But I think we’re turning things around.
agreed. wait < two yrs you’ll win the mavs trade.
draft barrett, give max $ kemba, add another chip next year and hire charles oakley to coach. simple
Knicks need #1 overall pick. They can go about it 1 of three ways. They use the pick and attempt to sign 2 of 3 top FAs KD or Kawhi and Kyrie etc. Use the pick and swing a trade for AD, best available player on the trade block and then try to lure KD or Kawhi and Kyrie. Use the pick and sign some 1-yr deals, develop talent inhouse and tank for another year to land another top 3 pick.
If they miss on KD or Kawhi, does Kyrie waste his prime in NYC alone? Jimmy Butler, Middleton, Kemba I dont see those guys pairing with Kyrie and making the team a title contender with Zion, Mitchell, and Knox. Kawhi/KD yes. So no point in paying a premium to finish 3rd or 4th in the East.