Mavericks forward James Johnson, who left the team over the weekend to attend a personal matter in Wyoming, missed a mandatory COVID-19 test and will be sidelined due to the health and safety protocols until he registers a certain number of negative tests, head coach Rick Carlisle said on Tuesday, per Callie Caplan of The Dallas Morning News.
Johnson is now back in Dallas, but he won’t be active for any of the Mavericks’ three remaining games this week, according to Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News, who tweets that the earliest the veteran forward could be cleared is for the March 24 contest against Minnesota.
Here’s more from around the Southwest:
- In the latest episode of The HoopsHype Podcast, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype and Kelly Iko of The Athletic previewed the Rockets‘ trade deadline, discussing possible suitors for Victor Oladipo and P.J. Tucker, as well as other players who could be available. Iko believes Ben McLemore could be had for a second-round pick and suggests that Christian Wood is the closest thing to an untouchable player on the roster.
- David Nwaba decided to forgo wrist surgery and play through the injury for the shorthanded Rockets, but he reaggravated the issue a couple games ago, putting surgery back on the table, according to head coach Stephen Silas, who said Nwaba is “probably going to be out for quite a bit” (video link via Mark Berman of Fox 26 Houston).
- Spurs guard DeMar DeRozan will miss a fourth consecutive game on Wednesday for personal reasons, per Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News (Twitter link).
- Although the Pelicans suffered a brutal loss in Portland on Tuesday night, the decision to expand the rotation has served the team well, giving New Orleans’ young players a chance to see more minutes, writes Scott Kushner of NOLA.com.
Kemba and trade exception for Aldridge and DeRozan. Who says no?
The salary cap
It actually works but the Celtics would say no.
Celtics would not say no and it does not work. You cannot combine the exception with a player.
You can’t “trade” an exception anyway. What an odd idea. You could absorb Aldridge into Boston’s TPE in exchange for a draft pick, and simultaneously trade Kemba for DeRozan, but you’d have to add Tristan Thompson to make it work. No idea why Spurs would do ths though. Nor Boston really, since last thing they need is another scoring wing.
Our “silli” wannabe GM here still doesn’t understand that one.
Anyone with aspirations to work for an NBA front office would have to at least have some inkling of how trade exceptions work.
TPE’s are created in trades, but don’t get sent from one team to the other as he seems to think no matter how often it’s explained to him.
Pops …. Spurs don’t need a PG.
Celtics really want to move Kemba. I think it could get Done.
Spurs are fine at PG. Really fine.
Mavs love Kenna
Kemba
Luka would too.
Is there another sport where guys can just go off for undisclosed “personal reasons” and miss 4 straight games? I can see one, for a death in the family that he doesn’t want to talk about, or some legal situation. But 4 games? If his wife’s having a baby you would think he’d be happy to talk about that. It’s just weird and unique to the NBA.
Brett Favre used to show up whenever he felt like it later in his career.
not in the middle of a season.
Bro, his dad died
Not only did his dad pass away, DeMar is very open about his battle with depression and mental illness. Personally I know something as deep as this can weigh heavily on your heart but even heavier on the mind.
PJ is definitely going to a contender.
Oladipo I’m not sure about. His health will play a big part. Could be best just to wait till he’s a FA. For the Knicks I would have been ok. If he played more this yr. As of now I wouldn’t give up much for him. And I’d want to know some what if he would resign. Kind of leery to take a chance on him now. I’d rather make a play for Fournier.
Fournier not exactly a pillar of health either
But no serious injury, I believe. He’s a better shooter and can play the 3. Is why I like him. Plus Oladipo is looking for big payday. That scares me.