Celtics guard Marcus Smart will be listed as probable for Saturday’s Game 3 and is expected to play barring any last-minute complications, writes Souichi Terada of MassLive. Smart missed Game 2 with a right thigh contusion, but he’s made significant progress, coach Ime Udoka said after this morning’s practice. Smart explained that the injury was actually closer to his knee, causing a build-up of fluid.
“Just take it, like I said, day-by-day,” Smart said. “The staff is doing a great job with treatment and exercises to help strengthen the quad and get the blood flowing and things like that.”
Udoka also said Jaylen Brown should be ready to play despite experiencing some hamstring tightness. He seemed to be grabbing his hamstring a few times in Game 2, but the Celtics don’t believe it’s a cause for concern.
There’s more from the Atlantic Division:
- The Knicks won’t have many attractive free agency options at point guard other than top choice Jalen Brunson, per Fred Katz of The Athletic. Katz warns that Brunson could get expensive, as other teams are expected to have interest in him as well. He adds that the team could easily clear about $20MM in cap space to make a bid for Brunson by waiving Taj Gibson, whose salary for next season is non-guaranteed, using second-round picks as sweeteners to get teams to trade for Alec Burks or Nerlens Noel, and waiving and stretching the final year of Kemba Walker‘s deal. Katz also reviews some alternatives if New York can’t land Brunson.
- Marc Berman of The New York Post talks to an orthopedic surgeon for insight into why Knicks guard Derrick Rose never returned from his two ankle surgeries. Dr. Anish Kadakia of Northwestern University said Rose and the team were being careful not to aggravate the ankle after the second procedure, which was necessary after an infection was discovered. Kadakia doesn’t believe there are any degenerative issues with the ankle, and he expects Rose to return next season. Rose still has two years left on his contract at a total of $30MM, but the final season is a team option.
- Ben Simmons‘ decision to have back surgery on Thursday is further evidence that the Nets got “damaged goods” in their trade with the Sixers, Berman states in a separate story. Even though Simmons is expected to be ready for training camp, Berman says it’s not a good sign that he’s about to go through another summer of limited activity.
Damaged goods. Looks like someone is going to need a new sponsor for his gaming chair.
Knicks best option is to sign best free agents then trade them away for a young star in February 2023
Knicks and Lakers are all about 2023-2029
Those Lakers coach candidates can’t fix Westbrook
Katz takes on math. It hasn’t been a good matchup for him in the past, and it again appears he’s overmatched. But Berman engaging an orthopedic surgeon as to a patient the guy hasn’t examined would the conversation to overhear if one were looking for a few laughs.
Brunson apparently is looking to stay in DAL (I doubt he even reaches FA). If he does though, and he and the NYK agree to a contract (unlikely as it is), then it will happen via a S&T. It doesn’t matter that DAL says they’re not interested in doing one; at that point, they’ll have to, as a practical matter.
The Knicks will explore many, if not all, of the “big” free agents out there… and sign none of them. They’ll overpay a useless player or two and overthink (and bust) on their lottery pick. Then they’ll be out of contention by November and everyone will be laughing at their dumb fanbase for buying into this “rebuild” that’s been ongoing for two decades.
Instead of using draft assets to shed contracts they foolishly gave out, the Knicks should just take Westrbrook, a 1st rounder, and a couple pick swaps from the Lakers to clear room for next offseason, and get an upgrade at PG. It makes a ton of sense, though, which is why they won’t do it.
They could include Noel, Burks, Walker, and Gibson. Lakers could then waive Gibson, stretch Walker, and get two rotation players on reasonable deals. Knicks could throw in a couple 2nds as sweeteners.
Can’t trade and waive Gibson
Stretching is usually a terrible idea in the NBA
Your still 12 mill short and a motive for the Lakers to engage
Forget Brunson. He’s not the answer. And he’s overrated. Yes I said it. Rather have Dinwiddie he’s the one who fits us best. Dinwiddie and Rose is a solid core. With Quickley and McBride. We’d be set at PG. Plus moving Randle for Dinwiddie is the key.
This guy is delirious
Brunson did best with a 5-out offense that left the middle open. I don’t see Thibs running that.
The Knicks impatience is their worst enemy. Fournier and Walker were not necessary. Now they sit back as more time passes by. And to even alleviate the cap burden will require mortgaging the future via draft picks.
Knicks need to stay the course with it’s young players and get as much picks for Randall