Luka Doncic played Saturday’s bronze medal game with an injured left wrist, but he tells Callie Caplan of The Dallas Morning News that it’s nothing Mavericks fans need to worry about. Doncic hit his wrist on plexiglass at courtside during Thursday’s semifinal contest. He had it wrapped in ice afterward and used several strips of tape to stabilize the wrist and forearm area for the bronze medal showdown.
“My wrist is going to be fine,” Doncic said. “I need a couple of days off from basketball. I’ve had every day basketball since the beginning of NBA season. A lot of games, so I need a couple days off.”
Doncic will return to Slovenia and will host a Mavericks contingent next week that includes owner Mark Cuban, new head coach Jason Kidd, general manager Nico Harrison and special advisor Dirk Nowitzki. They will finalize a five-year max-salary extension for Doncic that projects to be worth up to $207MM.
After that meeting, Kidd and director of player health and performance Casey Smith will head to Latvia to meet with Kristaps Porzingis, tweets Marc Stein of Substack.
There’s more from the Southwest Division:
- The Pelicans were hoping to make a splash in free agency, but the results have been disappointing, writes Scott Kushner of NOLA.com. New Orleans was rumored to be in contention for an established point guard such as Chris Paul or Kyle Lowry, but instead the team got rid of three starters with no obvious upgrade in return. Kushner notes that it’s dangerous for a team in the NBA’s second-smallest market with no tradition of success to rely on signing free agents.
- Rockets coach Stephen Silas is ready to focus on basketball again after spending 10 days in quarantine following a positive COVID-19 test, per Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. Silas, who wasn’t able to be in the draft room or attend the post-draft press conference, expressed his enthusiasm about the team’s four first-round picks — Jalen Green, Alperen Sengun, Usman Garuba and Josh Christopher. “I was excited to get all four guys because I had done research on all for of them and studied them. We had talked a lot about them,” Silas said. “It all worked out almost as a perfect world for us as far as who we got and where we got them and now looking forward with them.”
- The Grizzlies received a B-minus from ESPN’s Kevin Pelton for Friday’s trade that sent Grayson Allen to the Bucks in exchange for Sam Merrill and two second round picks. Pelton states that Allen wasn’t in Memphis’ long-term plans and may not have gotten another contract after his rookie deal expires next summer.
If the Rockets had gotten Jarrett Allen, Caris Levert, and Spencer Dinwiddie, they would have a very solid team. If Jalen Green becomes a superstar, they’d be even better. In their front office, I don’t trust.
If they got those 3 guys, they likely wouldn’t have gotten the 2nd pick.
That is just incorrect. Would the rockets be wise to pay Jarrett Allen $20 million a year? Plus had they brought in those 3 what are the odds that they still finish with that record and don’t pass their pick on to the thunder? So you’re arguing they’d be in a better spot missing out on the lottery? Okay this next season sure they probably would’ve won more games, long term not even close rockets played their hand perfect
Getting Oladipo was a mistake so their hand was not perfect and they would have a bunch of picks to use to trade up for #2. Plus, they were that bad this season and not just because of lack of talent so they would still be in the lottery. As for Jarrett Allen, how is that any different from if Jalen Green becomes at least an all-star and they pay him 20 million? I’m saying they could’ve done better in that Nets trade and more importantly than that, they stand by the mistake of getting Oldadipo so I don’t trust that front office.
Because Jalen Green is locked into his rookie contract while Jarrett Allen already signed for 100 mil.
There roster doesn’t look as bad as it appears. On paper, they don’t look like anything to be concerned about. Everyone loves an underdog and Rockets will be one this upcoming season. They have gotten bigger and have depth at majority of the positions. You can’t ask for more without setting fire to the roster for a single super star. They can play small ball or switch it up and put it the big guys. It’s fairly balanced and Rockets haven’t been this “big” with players in quite awhile.
The roster will be much better than people expect it to be. The only players they lost that matter at all are Olynyk and Sterling Brown, who were basically replaced by Green and Daniel Theis. Nobody has signed Bradley, DJ Wilson, or Exum which is no surprise.
Those three were replaced by 3 very promising rookies: Sengun, Garuba, and Christopher. So the 5 new guys are a huge upgrade, the only one that’s debatable is Theis replacing Olynyk. It’s a trade of offense (Olynyk) for defense (Theis), which is what they needed.
” So the 5 new guys are a huge upgrade, the only one that’s debatable is Theis replacing Olynyk.” – automatically renders what you said moot because no one on the Rockets is as good of a defender as Bradley, except for maybe Wall and Wall isn’t what he used to be. Rookies who might peter out are not an upgrade over servicable and effective veterans who still got a few years left. You say it’s a trade of offense for defense and yet they got rid of Bradley, which you defend and condone. That makes zero sense.
Unfortunately they don’t have an owner like Joe Lacob who doesn’t mind paying $200M in luxury taxes every year. Because having Allen, LeVert, and Dinwiddie on their recently signed contracts would put the Rockets at least $30M over the luxury tax threshold which would severely limit any roster moves they want to make since they would already be way over the hard cap.
That number ($30M over the luxury tax threshold) doesn’t include them re-signing Nwaba or getting Theis in a sign-and-trade either.
I think they look really promising with Porter Jr, Green, Martin Jr, Tate, Wood, Sengun, Garuba and Christopher.
Would have loved if they somehow had found a way to get Cunningham instead of Green but that’s fine. They definitely need a young point guard going forward but this group looks interesting.
Dinwiddie LeVert and Allen would’ve meant missing out on the second pick and even if you somehow didn’t and still got green I wouldn’t rate this group that much anyways that’s 4 players on almost 4 different timelines.
This group they now have is young and exciting but with Wall, Gordon and Wood as some older heads.
Why mix Cristofer and Garuba with players with some proof? Garuba can’t shoot and has no NBA experience. All the rookies are kind of gadgety… hit/miss.
You root for Cade go to HOU instead of DET… perhaps 1)PHL, 2)HOU
Your comment doesn’t make any sense.
Garuba was talked about as one of the best players outside of the NBA. He’s the youngest starter ever for Real Madrid and youngest player to record a double-double in that Spain league. (Both records previously held by Doncic)
He won euro league rising star, an award also won by the likes of Doncic, Gallonari, Mirotic, Bogdanovic and Rubio.
He also held his own getting rebounds against USA before the Olympics.
As for my Cade interest, I really like the kid think he’s going places and I just wanted him to end up in Houston over Detroit. Don’t really like Detroit personally whereas do like the Rockets history with Hakeem Yao TMac Harden etc etc
Yeah those three guys are nice starters on a good team but in Houston they don’t make a ton of sense. Not like Dinwiddie and Allen are going to make this roster a contender.
I like the Green pick—and Singun too. And they’ll still
be bad enough next year to hopefully get another high pick.
Tell Tillman to step his money game up. Penny pinching owners make for losing franchises which the rockets are destined to be. I will say the draft class IMO was the best this year
Rockets are a mess. Cause Morey and Harden left them in a mess. They tanked and got what they needed to get. A top 4 pick in a deep draft. Green is a great pick. Time to look at tmrw. This was a solid draft for Rockets. Next is moving Wall and Wood imo. And seeing if Porter is a keeper. It’s a full rebuild something I’ve been saying they should do since the Bubble. Rebuilding thru draft is best way to do it. Rockets got a big head start this yr.
More nonsense from 0 basketball iq al. The rockets will not be moving Wood PERIOD.
By the length of his contract and the rebuilding proceds he will be moved
Fact is Green is the future. Plus the draft. So his age does not fit them. It’s the smart move to move him while his value is high. It’s what’s best for team.
Just like they wouldn’t move, Chris, Westbrook, Harden. All twice the player Wood will dream of being. I’ve forgotten more ball yesterday than you will ever LEARN child. You think muting me keeps me away from you. Only shows cowardice is your answer to me. You may like Wood. But his teammates definitely got issues with him. It’s known he’s talking about a max contract NOW. And not wanting to be part of a rebuild. Look it up. This is not heading to a healthy place. For a young rebuilding team. His value will never be higher. Plus his age doesn’t fit teams rebuilding age. Get some basketballs and take a step up to real knowledge. I put fear in you or something. Ha ha you can help RocketMan with his new name. When he does get moved. Ok make yourself useful lol
I’ve already given you the perfect new name 0IQAL but if we have to continue lets do it little man. Wood is 25 right now, you are acting like he is 35. Name the last NBA team who was successful and ran a team full of kids under 25. Wait you can’t find that huh oh thats a shame. Wood is better than anyone on the Knicks, hell Jalen Green is better than any Knicks player in the last 15 years. I get it you envy the rockets, and the fact that you mention the most knowledgeable Rocket fan here so much (Greenwood) is actually kinda scary. Maybe if you ask him out he’ll put you down lightly. For the last time KnickerLoserAl the rockets rebuild/tank took place last year, this year is a let the draft picks gel together with the few holdovers from last year and grow, and next year is bring in free agents and try to compete for a championship. The Knicks have their first winning season since 2012 and the trolls come out like they won something. NEWS FLASH they play in the weaker east conference, in the west they would’ve played in the playin and lost last year. Get off the computer 0IQAL and let people who actually watch basketball have a discussion.
Why is Young extension 207 m, but Doncic only 202m?
They’ll both be worth the same amount (if Young makes an All-NBA team next season).
The $202MM estimate was based on the NBA’s old cap projection, but the league bumped up that projection the other day, so $207MM is the new estimate. I’ve updated the story to reflect that.
I picked Dallas as a dark horse last season, and I think I’ll pick them again this year. The West is wide open.
Why wouldn’t the Pelicans just keep Jrue if they wanted to sign Lowry this offseason? Doesn’t make any sense to me. I’m not sure Griff knows what he is doing.
Because “leadership” “grittiness” “locker room toughness” blah blah blah
Griffin is fumbling this badly. In retrospect you’re entirely right, this team would be better of having just kept Jrue
And Lonzo. Who they inexplicably replaced with … Devonte Graham?
New Orleans got the two best #1 picks of the last decade and they’re en route to have nothing to show for it.
Agree 100%. They lose the best #1 pick of the decade for not much. And then they get lucky and have the 2nd best #1 pick of the decade fall into their laps, and they’re crapping the bed with that too. It’s unbelievable.
Yes I know what they got for AD. I thought it was the best they could do but I’m not an Ingram guy and those picks probably aren’t going to be that great.