Timberwolves officials will have to work to repair the damage with Juan Hernangomez after denying permission for him to represent Spain in the Olympics, writes Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic. The 25-year-old forward, who has been participating in international competitions since 2013, was “deeply disappointed and hurt” by the decision, according to Krawczynski.
Hernangomez suffered a dislocated left shoulder in a July 8 exhibition against France. The Spanish team originally said Hernangomez might need surgery and would require several weeks to recover. Minnesota’s front office believed that meant he was out of the Olympics, but Spain included him on the official roster that was announced Monday, saying his condition improved rapidly.
President of basketball operations Gersson Rosas said the Wolves’ medical staff never cleared Hernangomez to resume playing.
“We support our international players’ decisions to play with their national teams and appreciate the passion of Juancho and the Spanish Federation to represent their country. Unfortunately, we are dealing with an active injury,” Rosas said in a prepared statement. “Based on our team physician’s recommendation, Juancho needs time to recover from and rehabilitate his injury, and that timeline restricts Juancho’s availability to participate in the Tokyo Olympics. The determined recovery plan is the best path forward to allow Juancho to heal properly.”
There’s more from the Northwest Division:
- In two meetings with president of basketball operations Neil Olshey since the Trail Blazers were knocked out of the playoffs, Damian Lillard has emphasized the need to add more talent, according to Jason Quick of The Athletic. Portland doesn’t have any picks in this year’s draft and re-signing Norman Powell will be the priority in free agency, so Olshey will likely have to be aggressive on the trade market. Teams have offered picks in the top half of the draft in exchange for CJ McCollum, Quick adds, but the Blazers have been refusing because that wouldn’t help with their urgency to improve right away. They are expected to try to purchase a pick in the second round.
- Will Barton declined his player option, but he and the Nuggets are optimistic about reaching a new deal, per Mike Singer of The Denver Post. JaMychal Green also opted out of his contract for next season, though Singer believes that it makes more sense for the team to prioritize a new deal with Green than with frontcourt free agents Paul Millsap and JaVale McGee.
- The Jazz aren’t likely to use their biannual exception this summer, states Sarah Todd of The Deseret News. Utah hopes to re-sign point guard Mike Conley, which would put its team salary above the tax apron and remove any chance to use the roughly $3.7MM BAE. Even if Conley goes elsewhere, Todd doesn’t believe the Jazz would be willing to take on the hard cap that comes with using the exception.
Players should be able to play whenever they want if it doesn’t conflict with the NBA season.
Trailblazers are screwed. They cannot improve without trades.
Guys context includes the right for the Timberwolves to hold him out of international play, so this was always a possibility, and rightfully so. The risk of significant injury that could could keep him from playing on his NBA contract is exactly why teams have the right to hold their players out. Definitely gonna be tricky getting back on his good side. I also really hope my Wolves actually read the medical reports or examined him in person before doing this.
*contract, not context. Oops.
If the T-Wolves were close to decent I would agree. Alas, I can’t.
Wait, what does this topic have to do with the fact that we perennially suck? This applies to any team…
Didn’t Green turn down his part of the contract option yesterday?
The Sixers should give it a go with Barton, he is a good solid basketball player and would help solidify the backcourt of the Sixers
Than can’t offer him more than the $9.5M MLE, that’s not nearly enough.
Juancho needs his agent to set him straight about who pays the bills, Spain or Minnie?
Blazers can improve by signing Powell. Then moving CJ for best offer. I think Hawks is good place for CJ. But I also like Ben coming to Portland. He can play the wing with Dame. For Blazers to upgrade as a team. Best way is move CJ. And hit on their draft pick they might get. Blazers have No picks this yrs draft.
Yes, tough bind in POR unless they make a major trade. McCollum is somewhat duplicative when Dame is on the roster. However, if they are brave they will find the best haul they can get for Lillard, not McCollum.
Eh if the team physicians say he’s not recovered then the team made the only decision it could. I’m sure many players would play through injury to help their team in the Olympics but if by doing so it causes the recovery to bleed into the regular season it’d be on the team for green lighting it.
Yes, seems a crybaby move for Hernangomez to play it this way. He is lucky to have an NBA contract in today’s game.