Trail Blazers big man Zach Collins remains on track to return in March after undergoing shoulder surgery, Jason Quick of The Athletic relays. Collins suffered a left shoulder dislocation and had the surgery performed in early November. “That’s definitely my goal,” Collins said of returning in March. “We will be in the playoff race and I’ll be able to come back and make a really good push. And hopefully Nurk (Jusuf Nurkic) comes back around that time and we can all just really come together at the right time for the playoffs.”
We have more from the Northwest Division:
- Nuggets coach Michael Malone hopes the current roster remains in place through the trade deadline, Mike Singer of the Denver Post tweets. However, he also knows that some reserves would have better opportunities elsewhere. Among those players are guard Malik Beasley and forward Juancho Hernangomez. “I hope we can keep this team because I know what this team is capable of… I also know it’s a business, I also know these guys all want to play,” Malone said.
- Nuggets forward Paul Millsap wishes he would have played it safer regarding the left knee contusion he suffered in a collision with Jamal Murray on December 20, Singer reports. Millsap has missed three games and hasn’t played up to his usual standards when he has suited up. “Probably should’ve got it taken care of and sat down and make sure it was good at that time,” Millsap said. “It’s a little lingering effect to it, and a few other things going on because of it. But, best-case scenario is just sit down and make sure I’m fully healthy.” Millsap, who insists the injury isn’t serious, will be an unrestricted free agent this summer.
- Rockets point guard Russell Westbrook returned to Oklahoma City on Thursday night and indicated he had no regrets about his tenure with the Thunder, Mark Medina of USA Today writes. “I have no bad blood or nothing here in this city with no fans or nobody in the organization,” Westbrook said. “They gave me all they had, and I gave them all I had.” Westbrook, who was traded in July, scored 34 points against his former team but OKC rolled to an easy victory.
The nuggets have one of the best rosters in terms of value able pieces. Last year was good for getting young guys some playoff experience but in terms of moving forward this year again they have a really good record but there are still big questions.
The only two real chances to the roster have been Porter Jr is fit and that the team traded and got in Grant.
In terms of match ups on the playoffs tho they play in west and will come up against teams like Clippers, Lakers, Rockets, Jazz and so on and they don’t have great go to scorers or lock down defenders. Together as a team they do great but come playoffs say your playing the Rockets, who guards Westbrook and Harden. Then on offence they can put Tucker or Capela on Jokic to play physical against him which might slow him down, outside of that can Murray out do Russ, can Barton and Harris be consistent contributors?
They remind me of Raptors teams with DDR and Lowry that LeBron would always destroy, or like the Thunder/Clippers that struggled to make it past the first round.
I think they should just run it back and hope to get better and that they need to have a move in order to get better.
I think Jrue Holiday would be perfect for this team. He’s an elite defender, can play on ball or off ball, is a leader and talks among his teammates and he’s a guy that’ll give you 20+ a night.
Would swap Holiday and either Hart or NAW for Harris, Beasley, Porter and a protected first.
Nuggets get their man to elevate them, plus they get a pod back up SG on a long cheap contract. Pelicans get Harris who is a handy SG, they get Beasley who holds good trade value, they get Porter who looks a stud and would fit in great with Ingram and Williamson, and they get a first.
It’s a lot of the Nuggets to give up but it makes them so much better and gives them real hope come playoffs of actually doing something. Pelicans give up Holiday who is a main piece of that team but Ingram has grown to be the leader this year, Williamson is still the number 1, Porter if he continues would be great for them and Harris is a more than handy replacement at SG
Forget it, Nuggets will not trade Porter.