There’s optimism that Kevin Durant will be able to return from his left calf strain at some point next week, according to Shams Charania of ESPN (Twitter video link), who suggests the Suns star could be back on the court as soon as Tuesday for an NBA Cup matchup with the Lakers.
There’s also optimism that Bradley Beal, who is dealing with a left calf strain of his own, will be able to return at some point next week, says Charania.
After taking on the Knicks on Wednesday in Phoenix, the Suns will have five days off before facing the Lakers, so if Durant can make it back for that Tuesday game, he’ll only be sidelined for one more contest. That would be great news for the Suns, who got off to an 8-1 start with Durant in the lineup and have gone 1-5 since he went down.
Here are a few more notes from around the Western Conference:
- The Rockets aren’t interested in breaking up their core to acquire Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, sources tell Kelly Iko of The Athletic (Twitter link). The report is presumably a response to Marc Stein saying that rival teams are keeping an eye on Houston as a possible Antetokounmpo suitor should he become available. However, given that Giannis isn’t actually available and Houston’s “core” isn’t precisely defined, it reads less like the Rockets are taking a hard-line position they’ll stick to in hypothetical negotiations down the road and more like they simply want to express how highly they value their young players.
- Mavericks forward Naji Marshall admitted he was “a little bit excited” to play the Pelicans on Tuesday, since it was his first time since entering the NBA that he got a chance to face a former team, writes Brad Townsend of The Dallas Morning News. Marshall, who had 15 points and three steals as Dallas secured a blowout win, said he has enjoyed seeing several former teammates who arrived in New Orleans around the same time as him secure contract extensions. “It’s crazy to see how it panned out,” Marshall said, per Christian Clark of NOLA.com. “Herb (Jones) is somebody. Jose (Alvarado). Trey (Murphy). Me. It’s a blessing. It’s something you dream about literally. When we were kids, wondering if we were going to be here or not. To see it all pan out and go in our favor is amazing.”
- Reinforcements should be coming soon for the injury-plagued Pelicans, according to Will Guillory of The Athletic, who says CJ McCollum could be back as soon as this Friday, with Jones and Jordan Hawkins to follow in the coming weeks. There’s hope that the team will be mostly healthy early next month, Guillory writes, though Alvarado’s and Zion Williamson‘s absences will likely extend beyond that. As Guillory details, if and when the Pelicans get back to full strength, the pressure will be on head coach Willie Green to get the team back into playoff contention.
If an opportunity for Houston to acquire Giannis were to come about they would drop everything and throw nearly everything into the deal to get it done as soon as the opportunity became available.
Not in the middle of the season, too much can go wrong. It’s a great idea for everyone, the Rockets, the Warriors, the Knicks and Giannis himself, for everyone to wait til the end of the season.
If John Horst were to call Rafael Stone tomorrow and said “let’s work out a deal for Giannis, it’s now or never”. There would be no hesitation. The opportunity to add a player like Giannis changes all plans.
No Davey, Taco is right. The sooner you could get a guy, if he was available, the better. You know the Rockets want to win today the minute they signed Dillon Brooks.
Plus we’ve seen it before where a team wanted half a day to think about it and the player was traded elsewhere. Rockets would never let that happen. They are the one team primed and ready for Giannis IF he were made available.
It makes more sense for the Rockets to hold off until at least the off-season to possibly make a big splash move. They need more time to see who exactly is their core and they aren’t a legitimate contender for a championship run this year. Take some more time to evaluate and then make a move. Giannis is also probably not the best fit for the team + a fit age wise. It seems like Booker is their dream target.
Yeah, we all should probably drop all these “Giannis in-season trade” ideas, its too awkward a fit for too many contenders right now. Going after him in the offseason when you can be more flexible, just makes more sense for all sides.
Here’s where you are correct Davey. The Bucks are not going to trade Giannis midseason. No way no how. I’ve explained it a few weeks ago. You have to play this out and sleep in the bed you made.
Trading Giannis now and first makes it difficult to trade the other guys and would do the team no good. You’d still be competitive enough to have a crappy draft position.
You’d have to dump the other guys first, then Giannas, then tank for a great pic with your Youth and scrubs playing Major minutes. But trading 5 guys at the deadline is much too difficult so they’ll be riding this out this year. Heck, this is the team they put together. There’s probably a run left in them anyway.
The Bucks does not own their own 2025 pick IIRC so there is no incentive in potentially blowing it up now and to tank for Flag or anybody else in the 2025 draft.
If Bucks do blow it up. Houston definitely is team to look at.
Pelicans only themselves to blame. Ingram is not a star. Zion can’t be depended on. They missed on picks. Who’s running this ??
Our daily Giannis trade story… NBA journalism leaves something to be desired these days. Sure Zion could be hurt less but he isn’t the only one who is injured right now. The Pelicans are trying to restructure but things aren’t moving there or in the win column. No teams are going deep into the playoffs with injuries but it’s too early to make irrational roster decisions.
Send Giannis to Spurs and let them form a new era with Twin Towers 3.0 with Wemby lmao.
JK he’s most likely going to be a Miami Heat.
He probably prefers the Heat or maybe even the Knicks but Houston can blow them away with an offer and they are on a better timeline than OKC.
I think Gary hit it right on the head. He will have a supporting cast in Houston. They have the picks and matching salary without having to include all their stars.
Gary is always spot on with his analysis. I think it’s between Houston and Miami. It’ll be interesting to see if Bucks do trade him though to the highest bidder or his preferred destination.
I don’t see Miami having the assets.
Herro is nice, Jacquez is a nice rotation player with limited upside. Houston can offer so much more — an exciting young core for the future.
No team can match this Houston offer:
– some firsts,
plus 3 of these 7
– 1 from Sengun, JGreen
– 1 from Smith, Eason
– 1 from AThompson, Sheppard, Whitmore
You both are too kind. I guess if you make enough predictions, a couple of them are bound to come in correctly LOL