Good news for the Mavericks — Luka Doncic and Jaden Hardy practiced in full on Monday, according to Brad Townsend of the Dallas Morning News.
The team will reevaluate Doncic, who has been dealing with a calf strain, after Tuesday’s practice before a decision on whether he’s good to go for the season opener against San Antonio. Hardy has been dealing with an ankle injury.
We have more from the Southwest Division:
- It’s not looking like Jose Alvarado will be ready for the Pelicans’ opener. The spark-plug guard was unable to practice on Monday, Christian Clark of the New Orleans Times-Picayune tweets. Alvarado has been dealing with a right ankle sprain suffered during an offseason workout.
- The Pelicans explored trading Zion Williamson over the summer, multiple executives told Clark, but there was never any serious traction on a deal. A better outcome would be for Williamson to stay healthy and fulfill his promise. Williamson is hopeful changes to the performance staff will help him reach that goal. “The Pelicans have put in a lot of things this offseason to not only prevent things like that, but to react to it in the best way possible,” Williamson said. “I think what the Pelicans have done, there is good structure.”
- The Rockets made a huge investment in Fred VanVleet and their new point guard believes they signed him at just the right time, he told James Herbert of CBS Sports. “It’s the perfect time for me to be here in this situation after the last three years that this organization has had,” he said. “Hiring Ime (Udoka) here, bringing a couple more vets with the young guys that they have, I think it’s just a perfect fit and it’s perfect timing.”
- Josh Green‘s salary structure in his rookie scale extension begins with a $12,654,321 salary next season, ESPN’s Bobby Marks tweets. He’ll make $13,666,667 the following season and $14,679,012 in 2026/27.
- In a subscriber-only story, the Houston Chronicle’s Jonathan Feigen discusses how the Rockets’ young core realizes that it’s time for them to start posting wins.
Rockets fans, prepare to be very underwhelmed by FVV
In all honesty, I doubt anyone is expecting FVV to leap to AS lock or even be a top 2 Rockets player in the next couple years(especially with the upside of the kids). Most rational people expect exactly what he’ll give.
Better structure in the offence freeing up Green, Smith and Sengun to improve, while elevating the defensive end(Let’s be honest it can’t get worse). Either way he brings much more than a low efficiency outside shooter people seem to label him. He’s a solid PG who can pass, defend and isn’t a terrible shooter.
Rockets have the opportunity to surprise the hoops world, somewhat like the Rangers did to baseball. Or some such…
Rockets missing piece is a PG. FVV may not be a true PG. He’s good enough to make a difference on this team. I agree when he says. The vets are going to help. These young guys got plenty of talent.
Smith, Cam, Anen, Sengun, Eason, Tate, Green. Lot of talent here. Has to be youngest core in NBA. Green is going to have a breakout yr with FVV here. Glad they got rid of Porter.
I think the Rockets plan is for Sengun to be their Jokic so there’s no real need for a true PG in the starting 5…
FVV joins a likeable roster outside of Brooks and the coach… They’ll be fighting for a play in spot at best…
Pelicans should of pulled the trigger on a Zion trade n rebuilt around a different identity…
He just ain’t serious enough about basketball to stay in shape for long enough…