A handful of NBA players who reportedly tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this season are close to returning to action, including Bulls veterans Tomas Satoransky and Chandler Hutchison. Head coach Billy Donovan said today that both players practiced and are on track to being available for Friday’s game vs. Charlotte (Twitter link).
Meanwhile, Celtics star Jayson Tatum will remain sidelined for Wednesday’s game vs. Philadelphia, but has a chance to get back on the court for Friday’s rematch vs. the 76ers after clearing the NBA’s health and safety protocols. Head coach Brad Stevens said during an appearance on Zolak & Bertand in Boston today that Tatum has about a 50/50 chance of playing on Friday, per Brian Robb of Boston Sports Journal (Twitter link).
Finally, Sixers guard Seth Curry is out of the league’s COVID-19 protocols, but isn’t quite ready to suit up for Wednesday’s game. Although he wasn’t listed on the club’s initial injury report, he’ll sit out tonight due to “post health and safety protocols reconditioning,” says Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link).
Here are a few more health updates from around the NBA:
- Magic guard Evan Fournier, who has been on the shelf for the team’s last nine games due to back spasms, will be available for Wednesday’s game vs. Minnesota, the team announced (via Twitter). Orlando was 4-0 with Fournier healthy to start the season, but lost the game in which he was injured and has slumped badly since then. Fournier’s return will be a welcome sight for the 6-8 club.
- Hornets center Cody Zeller, who suffered a broken hand on opening night, returned to practice today, according to Rick Bonnell of The Charlotte Observer, who notes (via Twitter) that the big man’s recovery timeline has him on track for an early-February return.
- In case you missed it, the Trail Blazers announced this week that CJ McCollum (foot) and Jusuf Nurkic (wrist) will be out for at least four weeks and six weeks, respectively.
McCollum out 4 more weeks
Nurkic out 6 more weeks
Collins out due to surgery
3 starters out
Rockets lose 2021 First if Blazers don’t make playoffs
if da blazers wanna improve despite being extremely shorthanded, they should consider trading covington for mo bamba, bacon, and aminu. cuz covington’s averaging a career low 6 ppg and isnt a fit with da blazers.
It will benefit da magic cuz turns out vuevic is now da centerpiece of da team and with birch also playing da 5, theres literally no room for bamba. dudes averaging 5 mpg. and ofc covington could be da piece they need for 3 and D cuz of his large wingspan. he will be a upgrade over bacon since he will get da chance to shoot more and more consistently prob than bacon.
As for da blazers, they get another 5 who could play solid D and space da floor and ofc provide depth. and bacon can provide inside scoring and da return of aminu can help fill in their missing perimeter defense left by them trading covington when he gets healthy.
im not sure if my trade proposal is bogus or not