Thunder wing Luguentz Dort, who suffered a right knee sprain this week, will miss Friday’s regular season finale against the Clippers, according to Royce Young of ESPN (Twitter link). Dort will be listed as day-to-day going forward, so his availability for the start of the postseason next week remains unknown. Oklahoma City’s first-round series vs. Houston gets underway on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, as Young adds, Thunder guard Chris Paul will also miss Friday’s seeding game due to a left hand sprain. That injury isn’t believed to be an issue that will compromise Paul’s postseason availability at all — he’s simply getting a rest before the playoffs get underway.
Here’s more from around the Northwest:
- Will Barton (knee) and Gary Harris (hip) will remain sidelined for the Nuggets‘ final seeding game on Friday, tweets Mike Singer of The Denver Post. There had previously been some optimism that Barton and Harris – who haven’t played yet this summer – might be available for today’s contest. Their playoff availability remains up in the air.
- In an appearance on TNT, Chris Haynes of Yahoo Sports (video link) reported that Trail Blazers star Damian Lillard and Clippers forward Paul George touched base to clarify that there were no hard feelings on other side in the wake of their recent war of words.
- Following the departure of G League Coach of the Year Martin Schiller, the Salt Lake City Stars – the Jazz’s G League affiliate – have promoted assistant Nathan Peavy to become their new head coach. Andy Larsen and Julie Jag of The Salt Lake Tribune have the story and the details on Peavy’s ascension.
- As a result of the seeding games in Orlando, the 2020 first-round pick that the Timberwolves will receive from the Nets will land at No. 17 overall. Minnesota was assured of receiving that lottery-protected pick once Brooklyn clinched its playoff spot.
#17 pick, J Johnson, HermanGomez >> For Love.
Love a vet fits in well with KAT. Good shooter at 4 and reb. Finish his career here. TWolves can make playoffs. Cavs get expiring contract. Young SF who can start for them. With the pick they can get a PF. There will be a few there. Or BPA they can use a real PG. Kyra Lewis will be there.
Not gonna be enough for Love. He might have a bad contract, but even with that he is still a much better player than that package.
Might be able to do a sign and trade with Beasley though.
@Hiflew
That’s not a bad proposition, as the Cavs could use a shooter at the wing to complement Garland at the point. Then Sexton could be a nice combo sixth man off the bench
Wolves need to draft a player and try to get two picks in second or another late first for cap space concerns in future.
At #17 Jalen Smith, Precious, Aleksej Pokusevski(could be Prozingus,Lauri joker ceiling)
Would love Smith and Pokusevski passing, 3, and help side would be phenomenal at7+ to pass ball over to Towns and Russell.
In 2nd – Isiah Stewar, Paul Reed, Reggie Perry
Along with Towns and Reid wolves are going to need a pf with handle, defense, rbs, assist potential.
I think we’re set 1-3 and if the get Booker these guys help cap space for next 3-5 years
Here’s something for those who still think that OKC is a well-run organization to consider. During the three years that James Harden, the 3rd pick of the 2009 draft, played for the Thunder he averaged 12.7 PPG as a bench player. Since arriving in Houston after one of the worst trades in NBA history, he has averaged almost 30 PPG in a Rockets uniform.