Trail Blazers center Pau Gasol is hopeful he’ll be ready to play by opening night, Joe Freeman of the Oregonian tweets. Gasol underwent surgery in May to repair a navicular stress fracture in his left foot. He’s scheduled to begin contact work this week and is happy how his rehab is coming along, Freeman relays. Gasol signed a one-year, veteran’s minimum deal with the Blazers to provide depth at the center spot as Jusuf Nurkic mends from a serious leg injury.
We have more from the Northwest Division:
- After reaching the Western Conference Semifinals last season, the Nuggets find themselves in an unfamiliar role as the hunted, coach Michael Malone told website writer Eric Spyropoulos. “Because of the season that we had, we have to know that we’re going to be a team that’s hunted, unlike being the hunter last season,” Malone said. “We can’t just relax. Things can change quickly in the NBA, so we can’t just show up and think we’ll go from point A to B.”
- Chris Paul isn’t pouting, at least not publicly, about being on a rebuilding Thunder team after being traded from the contending Rockets, Brett Dawson of The Athletic reports. Paul took a positive tone during the team’s Media Day. “It’s funny, because a lot people try to tell your truth or your story and say what you want, all this different type stuff,” Paul said. “I’m excited about the opportunity, excited about our team, excited about building.”
- The Timberwolves have promoted Emmanuel Rohan to assistant GM, according to a team press release. Assistant GM Gianluca Pascucci will have the added responsibilities of GM of the Iowa Wolves, the team’s G League affiliate.
Of course Chris Paul is excited. Two big reasons. He’s making 40 million bucks which is unheard of except for a couple of guys and number 2, he is in total charge on the floor.
He doesn’t have to share the ball, and he can scream and yell and act up all he wants because he’s the alpha dog on this team.
He probably shouldn’t act up too much, it’s a long season and he missed 24 games in each of his two seasons with the Rockets. OKC should consider themselves lucky if he can stay healthy for 50 games.
Pau is hoping he’ll be ready to play by opening night?? Ready to play what? Candy crush on his phone while he sits on the bench? I def do not see him being in the rotation
The Blazers don’t have a ton of depth up front while they’re waiting for Nurkic to recover, that’s why they signed Pau. Whiteside, Zach Collins, and Tolliver should get most of the minutes at PF and center. But they might need someone else to play a few minutes, which would probably be either Pau or Skal.
What the heck are you talking about??? CP3 not in the rotation??? Man drop the weed, please!
PAU Gasol.
Yeah IslandFlava stop blaming your inability to read on other people’s usage of marijuana. A little Island Sativa Flava could help you chill out a bit…
How is it that:
Denver
Oklahoma City
and
Minnesota
are considered by the NBA to be “Northwest” ?
You want one team in the Northwest Division and 9 teams in the central? That would be weird.
So you want 22 teams or whatever it is in the Eastern Conference and 8 teams in the Western Conference? That would be weird.
What about Eastern, Western and Central Confrences?
Now that would work… but how would you divvy up the playoff seedings ? Who would play who, or would it just be the top 16 teams regardless of division?
North Central & South Central
Would make four conferences.
That makes sense geographically.
So is the “at least not publicly” line necessary?
Not really, but being traded from one of the best teams in the NBA (and the only one he ever reached the WCF with) to one of the worst teams in OKC would make most people pout, publicly or not.