Raptors star big man Pascal Siakam, who has been sidelined with a right adductor strain since November 4, was cleared for contact and fully participated in a team practice on Friday, per Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports (via Twitter).
Lewenberg tweets that Siakam feels that he is improving daily, and remains deferential to Toronto’s medical staff when it comes to managing his ailment.
Toronto has upgraded Siakam’s status to questionable ahead of the team’s game against the Cavaliers on Monday night, reports Marc Stein (Twitter link). If Siakam is determined to be not quite ready for Monday’s game, he could return to the floor against the Pelicans on Wednesday, Lewenberg adds.
There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:
- Sixers reserves Shake Milton and Georges Niang, both of whom will be unrestricted free agents in 2023, have been playing well in the absence of injured Philadelphia stars James Harden, Tyrese Maxey and Joel Embiid, writes Kyle Neubeck of PhillyVoice.com. Neubeck notes that Milton, who hadn’t received much playing time of late, has exhibited an enticing display of scoring, ball-handling, and off-ball defense as a fill-in starter that could earn him more minutes long-term. Neubeck adds that Niang’s reliable three-point shot has opened up the team’s offense when he plays.
- Knicks backup power forward Obi Toppin is hoping to return to his early-season long-range shooting form, per Peter Botte of The New York Post. “I feel like I’m still taking the right shots, it’s just not falling,” Toppin told Botte following a practice on Saturday. “I’m just in a little lull right now, and I’m gonna break out of that real soon. Have to start hitting shots again, and continue making the right plays. But I know I don’t have to shoot good to play good.” Toppin has shot just 16.7% from deep in his last five games. The 6’9″ big man had made 42.4% of his triples during New York’s first 14 contests.
- Nets sharpshooter Joe Harris has seen his minutes reduced as his three-point shooting takes a dip, according to Mark W. Sanchez of The New York Post. Harris has shot just 2-of-16 from the floor across his last three Brooklyn games. “We really shortened the rotation,” head coach Jacque Vaughn said. Only eight Nets players logged for 10 minutes or more in a 128-117 Friday loss to the Pacers. At 12:02, Harris played the fewest minutes among that top eight.
Obi and RJ both have to get a consistent shot. You’d think the Knicks would be working 24/7 on this. Best thing that can happen for Obi. Is a Randle trade.
Which team do you think wants Randle, and what do you expect as a return? I don’t think he will bring a 1st
I could see Chicago being dumb enough to go for Randle…then they’d have four offense-first starters. I think trading Coby White, some overpayed bench piece, and salary filler with a second round pick or two attached would get the job done.
Never mind, I didn’t realize just how overpayed Randle was ($23 MILLION?!?). Chicago can’t afford him unless they trade Vucevic (which is actually a trade I wouldn’t mind). Teams that also need power forwards include Miami (trade Duncan Robinson and 1st rounder) and Dallas if they put him at center (trade Randle/Fournier/1st for Tim Hardaway/Josh Green/filler/2nd round picks).
I forgot how he much he was making too haha jeez they have him at that salary for 3 more years! That being said there is a non 0 chance if he gets traded he can bounce back