Magic guard Cole Anthony returned to action on Tuesday after missing seven games with a left big toe strain. He was upgraded from questionable to available prior to Orlando’s contest against San Antonio, the team’s PR department tweets.
Anthony has appeared in 61 games this season, averaging 9.6 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists per contest. He’s in the first year of a three-year, $39.1MM contract.
We have more from the Southeast Division:
- Caleb Houstan received rotation minutes over the past six Magic games in Anthony’s absence. The highlight of that stretch for Houstan was an 18-point outing against Sacramento on Saturday. “He’s always consistent, no matter if he’s playing or not playing, if he’s in or out of the rotation,” Paolo Banchero told Beede. “He’s always showing up, getting his work in. Every time he shoots it, it has a pretty good chance of going in.” Orlando holds a $2.19MM club option on Houstan’s contract for next season, which must be exercised by the end of June.
- Hawks defensive ace Dyson Daniels, just named Defensive Player of the Month in the Eastern Conference, is pleased with the chemistry on the team. “I think we have really good pieces on this team, and pieces that work well together,” Daniels told Sportskeeda’s Grant Afseth. “Obviously, (Trae Young is) our guy, the motor of the team. We try to look after him, set him screens, get him open, and he does the same for us. He’s a really good passer.”
- Terry Rozier had dropped out of the Heat‘s rotation until Monday, when he played 33 minutes against Washington with a host of players missing the contest. Rozier contributed 15 points, six rebounds and five assists. The veteran guard, who has one year left on his contract, admits it’s best a rough season for him. “It’s never easy for a competitor, especially me,” he said, per Ira Winderman of the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “You work so hard and then it just becomes unfortunate with the situation. But you just try to stay positive through it all, and give grace and still be thankful that I’m in this position. You try to keep working hard, waiting for my name to be called again.”
Miami Heat are in a hard place.
The roster is aging, you lack a real superstar.
You’re still determined to be a playoff side.
You don’t have much in terms of assets for trades.
Here one idea I just thought of for the offseason.
Andrew Wiggins, Kyle Anderson and the GSW pick 22 for Brandon Ingram
I’d then offer Terry Rozier, Nikola Jovic and a second round pick for Marcus Smart and Saqid Bey.
Have Duncan Robinson and Daivon Mitchell walk in FA to free up some spending money. Go after Chris Paul, Gary Trent Jr and Marvin Bagley Jr.
Lastly with currently projections your expected to have the 11th pick and I’d grab Jeremiah Fears.
Which leaves you with …
Smart Herro Ingram Highsmith Adebayo
Paul Trent Jr Jacquez KLove Ware
Fears Bey Bagley
That I think is your best chance a remaining a good playoff side without shelling out all your future draft picks. You’ve added a better third star in Ingram to go with Herro and Bam. Marcus Smart gives you an elite level defender on the perimeter and Highsmith fills the last starting spot. Chris Paul helps cover Smart if he’s injured but also does a fantastic job running the second unit and getting the best out of the role players. Trent Jr and Bey give them lights out shooters. Young Fears gets to learn from an all time great. While lastly they take a flier on Bagley and hope Bam and KLoves leadership can bring the best out of him. It’s about managing a win now timeline with upside for the future
Ingram just signed and extension and Smart(one of my favorite players) is far from elite anything anymore unfortunately. Also that team doesn’t look any better.
Hopefully the Heat can find a diamond in this draft.