- In a wide-ranging interview with HoopsHype’s Alex Kennedy, Celtics guard Shane Larkin discussed his impending free agency, past injuries, and his current stint in Boston. Larkin noted that if possible, he would love to remain in Celtics green. “Obviously going into free agency, you can’t say, “Yeah, this is what’s going to happen.” I love being in Boston and if Boston is the right place for me to be next season, I would be happy to come back and have no hesitation because I love the fans, I love the city and I love everything about it,” he said.
Only about a quarter of the NBA’s teams are expected to have meaningful cap room this summer, so restricted free agents hoping for a major payday could have a tough summer, writes Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders. Last week, we identified eight RFAs we believe have positioned themselves well for long-term contracts, and while we’re still bullish on those players, the RFA market may not be as active overall as it has been in some previous offseasons.
Within his latest piece, Kyler took a closer look at a few specific 2018 restricted free agents, so let’s round up some highlights from his breakdown…
- Most NBA insiders believe the Bucks will ultimately retain Jabari Parker, according to Kyler, who suggests that – with a new arena on the way – Bucks ownership may not be as worried about the rising cost of team salary as you’d expect.
- The Bucks and Magic may let the market drive the respective prices on Parker and Aaron Gordon, according to Kyler. With Orlando’s new management group looking to shed cap dollars, the team will be wary of overpaying Gordon. Kyler also notes that the Magic could be open to the possibility of a sign-and-trade if Gordon wants to play elsewhere. However, sign-and-trades can be particularly tricky to pull off for RFAs getting big raises due to the Base Year Compensation rule, so that may be a long shot.
- The prevailing thought on Dante Exum is that he’ll be back with the Jazz, though likely not on a long-term deal, says Kyler.
- In order to pry Marcus Smart away from the Celtics, it might take an offer sheet at least in the range of $12-14MM per year, per Kyler.
- The Kings are worth watching as a possible suitor for Lakers big man Julius Randle, though many people expect the Mavericks to be the team “on Randle’s doorstep” when free agency opens on July 1, Kyler writes.
- Clint Capela (Rockets), Zach LaVine (Bulls), Jusuf Nurkic (Trail Blazers), and Rodney Hood (Cavaliers) are among the RFAs considered more likely than not to stay with their current teams, according to Kyler. For more details on those players – along with an item on Suns guard Elfrid Payton – be sure to check out Kyler’s full piece.
The surgical procedure that Kyrie Irving had on his knee last week may not be the last one of his career, relays A. Sherrod Blakely of NBC Sports Boston. The operation was performed to remove a tension wire that was causing irritation. It was inserted after Irving fractured his patella during the 2015 NBA Finals.
“We tried to do a minimal amount of surgery at this moment,” Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said on 98.5 the Sports Hub. “And it might require some more. We don’t know any of that. I don’t know. … When I say it shouldn’t affect his career, I’m saying his knee is very structurally sound. It isn’t like a long-term thing. There could still be some challenges.”
Ainge added that Celtics didn’t discuss the possibility of surgery for their point guard until he started experiencing discomfort earlier this month. He is projected to be sidelined for three to six weeks.
There’s more today out of Boston:
- Jaylen Brown was relieved to get back on the court this week after missing six games with a concussion, Blakely writes in a separate story. Brown was sidelined after landing hard on a dunk in a March 8 game. “I was tired of sitting down,” he said. “I just wanted to play, get ready for the playoffs. This is what it is about. Anytime I’m out there I feel happiness.”
- Thirty-year-old guard Xavier Silas never gave up on his NBA dream while playing on a series of G League and overseas contracts, relays Mark D’Amico of NBA.com. Silas had just wrapped up his latest G League season with Northern Arizona when he learned that the Celtics were offering him a 10-day contract. “I think with me being older, I think I understand a little bit that it’s not about trying to do too much, or trying to make a big bang or a big splash,” Silas said. “It’s just, do what I’m supposed to do, and helping out the team, even if it’s little increments here and there.”
- Tim Cato of SB Nation examines how the Celtics are able to keep winning with so many key players sidelined. Last night’s comeback in Utah was the latest example as Boston wrapped up a 4-0 road trip with little-used Guerschon Yabusele making his second start of the season. Cato contends the performance makes Brad Stevens a strong contender for Coach of the Year.
Celtics guard Marcus Smart is making progress in rehabbing a torn ligament in his right thumb and hopes to be available for the second round of the playoffs, writes Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe.
A cast on his hand was recently replaced by a splint with an opening at the top that allows him to move his thumb, and he has been able to do some light exercises with the injured digit. Smart tore the ligament earlier this month and underwent surgery March 16. His original prognosis had him out six to eight weeks, which sets a potential return about the time of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
“Definitely right now, that’s what we’re shooting for,” he said. “The way it’s going now, we’re on the right path. Hopefully nothing happens where it gets delayed.”
There are more injury updates from around the NBA:
- Kevin Love has been placed in concussion protocol and will miss tonight’s game, the Cavaliers announced on their website. He suffered a front tooth sublexation last night and experienced concussion-like symptoms at halftime.
- After missing nearly four weeks with a strained groin, Lakers forward Brandon Ingram expects to return tonight, tweets Mike Bresnahan of Spectrum Sports Net.
- Coach Luke Walton says Lakers rookie Josh Hart has looked good in three-on-three games and may be cleared to play Friday, according to Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN (Twitter link).
- John Wall, who has been sidelined since having arthroscopic surgery on his left knee in late January, may be able to return tomorrow, according to a tweet from the Wizards. Coach Scott Brooks said Wall will participate in the team’s shootaround and a decision will be based on how the knee responds. He is officially listed as questionable.
- Clippers forward Danilo Gallinari is targeting Friday to return from a fractured right hand, relays Emiliano Carchia of Sportando. “I hope to play a few minutes against Portland [Friday],” Gallinari said in an interview with Italian outlet Sky Sport. “The hand is not completely healed, but we’ll see how I can help the team in the games left in the regular season. I will try to bite the bullet for the playoff race. The franchise asked me to grit my teeth and play. I will try to do that.”
- After re-injuring his right ankle Monday, Celtics forward Marcus Morris will sit out tonight’s game, according to a tweet from the team. He will probably return Saturday, according to Himmelsbach (Twitter link).
- Celtics coach Brad Stevens provided an another update on Gordon Hayward, saying he’s still limited to the Alter-G treadmill and hasn’t been cleared to run on the court (Twitter link). “There will be nothing more exciting for him than being able to get back out on the basketball court,” Stevens said (Twitter link).
- Cavaliers forward Cedi Osman may be cleared to return to action after a hip flexor injury. He tweeted an image of himself accompanied by the word, “finally.”
- Jazz center Tony Bradley has cleared concussion protocol, tweets Eric Woodyard of The Deseret News.
The Celtics have signed Xavier Silas to a 10-day contract, the team announced on its website.
The 30-year-old shooting guard is returning to the NBA for the first time since 2012, when he played two games for the Sixers. He spent this season with Northern Arizona in the G League, averaging 18.4 points in 43 games. Over the past five seasons, Silas has been with several G League teams and played overseas in Israel, Greece, Germany, Argentina and China. He was with the Wizards in training camp in 2014, but was unable to earn a roster spot.
Silas played in the BIG3 league last summer, being drafted fourth overall by Tri-State and later traded to the Ball Hogs.
The Celtics are using a hardship exception to sign Silas, so another roster move won’t be necessary. Boston thought it had a 10-day deal with Sean Kilpatrick last week, but he wound up signing a multiyear contract with the Bulls.
- Already hit hard by the injury bug, the Celtics saw Marcus Morris leave Monday’s game in the fourth quarter due to a sprained right ankle. As an ESPN report details, X-rays came back negative, so Morris may not be looking at an extended absence — that would be a relief for the C’s, who could use some good injury news.
The Celtics will sign G League guard Xavier Silas to a 10-day contract, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN tweets.
Silas, 30, has not played in the NBA since the 2011/12 season, when he made a two-game cameo with the Sixers. The 6’5″ guard has played 40-plus games for the G League’s Northern Arizona Suns the last two years. In 43 games this season, he averaged 18.4 PPG and 4.1 RPG.
Boston was granted a roster hardship exception to sign another player due to a high volume of injuries. To qualify for the exemption, a team must have at least four players who have missed three consecutive games and are deemed likely to be out for an additional two weeks.
The team is currently without Gordon Hayward (dislocated left ankle), Daniel Theis (torn left meniscus), Marcus Smart (right thumb), and Kyrie Irving (left knee).
The Celtics had agreed to a 10-day deal with Sean Kilpatrick, but he received a better offer from the Bulls, with whom he signed a 10-day deal earlier today.
Celtics point guard Kyrie Irving underwent a procedure on his left knee on Saturday and is expected to be sidelined for three to six weeks. Irving’s knee was found to be structurally sound aside from the soreness, a good sign given his troubles with the knee in recent years.
A source tells Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald that doctors were happy with Irving’s kneecap, which had been an issue for him since the 2015 postseason.
“Now it’s a matter of how long it takes the soft tissue to heal,” the source told Murphy. “They’ve known that the knee is sound. The ligaments, cartilage and tendons are all fine.”
Within the confines of the timetable, Irving could be back anywhere from the first round to the end of the second round of the postseason. However, Irving is considered an integral part of the Celtics’ present and future and the team wants him healthy.
In 60 games, Irving averaged 24.4 PPG and 5.1 APG while playing improved defense.
Check out more Atlantic Division notes:
- Oft-injured Knicks point guard Ron Baker underwent surgery on his torn right labrum in February and just recently ditched his sling. Baker spoke to Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News about his future rehab steps. “Just depends on what staff thinks is best for me,” Baker said. “I’ll see when I get healthy in June. Because not touching a ball for four months and just jumping right into things obviously would be shaky. So obviously summer is going to be a big deal for me.”
- The Raptors have to make a decision on whether or not sign him Nigel Hayes for the remainder of the season. However, given Malcolm Miller‘s usage during OG Anunoby‘s injury versus Hayes’ garbage time minutes, Miller is the more likely candidate for the 15th roster spot, tweets Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports. Miller is currently on a two-way deal.
- Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson said that despite the team’s lackluster record, the season is not over just because the postseason isn’t in the cards, Bryan Fonseca and Anthony Puccio of NetsDaily relay. “Anytime we get (a win) it’s a good thing,” Atkinson said. “It boosts our morale; it confirms what we’re doing.”
- Even though Kyrie Irving is expected to miss the first part of the playoffs, there’s a silver lining for the Celtics regarding today’s surgical procedure on his knee, writes Matt Dollinger of Sports Illustrated. The operation showed the patella fracture he suffered during the 2015 NBA Finals is fully healed and the knee is structurally sound. President of basketball operations Danny Ainge has a long-term plan to build around Irving and Gordon Hayward, Dollinger adds, and should be relieved that Irving projects to have a healthy future.
- The Celtics had to alter their plans to sign Sean Kilpatrick to a 10-day contract when he reportedly got a better offer from another team. Boston is targeting perimeter depth with its hardship exception, tweets Adam Himmelsbach of The Boston Globe.
3:35pm: Murphy is now hearing that another, unnamed team has stepped in and provided a better offer to Kilpatrick (Twitter). Accordingly, it is unlikely that the Celtics will sign him to a 10-day deal after all.
11:38am: The Celtics are expected to sign Sean Kilpatrick to a 10-day contract later today, tweets Mark Murphy of the Boston Herald.
Keith Smith of RealGM tweeted last night that sources expected Boston to utilize the NBA’s roster hardship exception to sign another player.
The team is currently without Gordon Hayward (dislocated left ankle), Daniel Theis (torn left meniscus), Marcus Smart (right thumb), and Kyrie Irving (left knee). Irving will undergo a “minimally invasive” procedure today on his left knee and his timetable to return should be clearer post surgery.
To qualify for the exemption, at least four players must miss a minimum of three consecutive games, and later be deemed to be out for an additional two weeks.
It has been a well-traveled 2017/18 campaign for Kilpatrick, who started the season with the Nets followed by cameos with the Bucks and Clippers. Kilpatrick suited for the Clippers on a pair of 10-day contracts recently, averaging 4.8 PPG in four games. He was not signed to a deal for the rest of the season after the second contract expired.
In 43 total games this season, Kilpatrick has averaged 4.4 PPG and 1.4 RPG.