If you missed any of this past week’s biggest headlines from around the NBA, we’ve got you covered with our Week in Review. Here are some of the most noteworthy stories from the last seven days:
Kawhi Leonard‘s load management plan drew a lot of complaints this week when it wiped out a potential matchup with Giannis Antetokounmpo, but the league decided that the way the Clippers are handling their new star is within the rules. However, the NBA office later fined the team $50K for making conflicting statements about Leonard’s health.
Paul George is targeting next week to make his debut with the Clippers. He has been sidelined since having surgery on both shoulders over the summer and wasn’t able to participate in a five-on-five practice until today. George is expected to start playing either Wednesday in Houston or Thursday in New Orleans.
The Hawks lost one of their brightest young stars when John Collins was suspended 25 games for violating the league’s anti-drug program. Collins contends he took a supplement that was “contaminated with an illegal component” and plans to appeal the suspension, which would keep him off the court until December 23.
Heat guard Dion Waiters, who has been at odds with the organization since a preseason argument with coach Erik Spoelstra, had a medical incident on a team flight Thursday night. Waiters reportedly passed out on the plane and suffered a seizure when he was awakened. He hasn’t played yet this season.
Memphis center James Wiseman, considered a possibility for the top pick in the 2020 draft, was ruled ineligible by the NCAA, but played Friday after obtaining an “emergency temporary restraining order.” The issue involves money that Tigers coach Penny Hardaway gave to Wiseman and his family to help them move to Memphis last year.
Here are 10 more noteworthy headlines from around the basketball world this week:
- The Warriors‘ rash of injuries to star players continued with the news that Draymond Green suffered a torn ligament in his left index finger. He’s expected to miss a “few games.”
- The Raptors lost Kyle Lowry and Serge Ibaka to long-term injuries. Lowry will miss at least two weeks with a fracture in his left thumb, while Ibaka is out indefinitely with a sprained right ankle.
- The Raptors will also be without Patrick McCaw for at least four weeks after he had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.
- Trail Blazers center Zach Collins will be sidelined at least four months after opting for surgery on his injured shoulder.
- Former Rockets forward/center Kenneth Faried is reportedly close to signing a one-year deal with the Zhejiang Guangsha Lions in China.
- The Magic filled their open two-way slot by signing former LaSalle guard B.J. Johnson.
- Cavaliers general manager Koby Altman told reporters that he has no intention of trading Kevin Love.
- The Clippers received some good news on their proposed Inglewood arena as a lawsuit to block the project was denied by a Superior Court judge.
- Former Klutch Sports clients Marcus Morris and Markieff Morris signed with Roc Nation Sports.
- Despite a string of injuries to frontcourt players, the Trail Blazers don’t plan to address the shortage with a trade.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
NBA fined LAC because they made a joke out of the NBA’s rule that teams must play healthy players. Fact is KL is 100% and should be suiting up every game. Fact 2 is part of the reason he came to LAC is because they said they’d manage his playing time.
This is why KL isn’t close IMO to Lebron or KD. Lebron is still the best in the game (he would be second if KD was healthy).