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Wolves Notes: Gobert, Randle, Edwards, Minott, Finch

October 5th, 2024 at 5:28pm CST by Arthur Hill

After spending the past two seasons trying to adapt his game to fit with Karl-Anthony Towns, Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert suddenly has a new frontcourt partner after this week’s trade with the Knicks. In an interview with Mark Medina of Sportskeeda, Gobert said he should be just as effective playing alongside Julius Randle.

“He’s a very smart player. He’s very versatile,” Gobert said. “I think that I’m going to be able to help him with my screening, with my spacing and my gravity and make his life even easier. I’ll try to get him as many easy baskets as he can get. He’s a guy that I know will make the right play. When the defense collapses, I know he’s good at kicking out. When the big helps, he’s good at finding his bigs. He’s a very smart player. We got a lot of games to get used to making mistakes and learn how to maximize him for us as a team.”

Gobert called Towns “a great friend” and credited him for being supportive after Gobert was acquired from Utah. They were able to take Minnesota to the conference finals for the first time in 20 years, even though Gobert admitted there were a lot of doubters along the way. He’s looking forward to competing for a title with the new-look Wolves, saying that Randle and Donte DiVincenzo are battle-tested veterans.

“To be able to win a championship, we have to be able to overcome adversity as a group,” Gobert said. “If the closeness is not there, when there’s adversity, then you’re going to break apart. We’ve been through a lot of adversity in the last two years as a group. I know Julius and Donte have been through adversity. They know what it is. They both have this type of maturity. They both are also guys that want to win. They understand that winning is not always pretty. So I’m excited about that.”

There’s more from Minnesota:

The Towns trade provides the Wolves with more financial flexibility and reduces the danger that Anthony Edwards might seek a trade in a few years due to a stagnant roster, observes Chris Hine of The Star Tribune. Hine believes the deal gives Minnesota a longer window to contend for a title, which is what Edwards will expect when he’s in the prime of his career.
Third-year forward Josh Minott was one of the stars of Friday’s preseason opener with 22 points and eight rebounds in a win over the Lakers. Minott tells Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic that following a disappointing Summer League performance, he has become more relaxed by not focusing on results, which has given him a better outlook. “In my 21 years on this planet — about to be 22 — this is probably the most confident I’ve ever felt in my jump shot,” Minott said. “I feel like anytime the ball leaves my hands from beyond the arc, it’s going in.” Wolves staff members have been raving about Minott’s shooting since last season’s playoffs, tweets John Hollinger of The Athletic.
Patrick Reusse of The Star Tribune is concerned that the Wolves might have too much talent on their revamped roster to keep everyone happy. Coach Chris Finch traditionally uses a nine-man rotation, and he has nine veterans who were rotation members on their respective teams last season. That’s in addition to Minott, Luka Garza, Leonard Miller and first-round picks Rob Dillingham and Terrence Shannon.

Orlando Robinson To Miss At Least Four Weeks With MCL Sprain

October 5th, 2024 at 4:20pm CST by Arthur Hill

A sprained MCL will keep Kings center Orlando Robinson out of action for at least four weeks, tweets Jason Anderson of The Sacramento Bee. Robinson injured his left knee at Thursday’s practice and will be reevaluated early next month, adds James Ham of Kings Beat (Twitter link).

The 24-year-old big man signed with Sacramento in August after a strong performance with Houston’s Summer League team. He spent his first two NBA seasons with Miami and averaged 2.8 points and 2.3 rebounds in 36 games in 2023/24.

Robinson has a one-year contract valued at $2.09MM, but it won’t become fully guaranteed until the league-wide guarantee date of January 7. He holds a partial guarantee of $500K, so it wouldn’t be a major expense to the Kings if he doesn’t make the roster, though Sacramento doesn’t have a ton of wiggle room below the luxury tax line. The team currently has 12 players with fully guaranteed deals, and all three two-way slots are filled.

If he does make the team, Robinson will have to battle for playing time in Sacramento’s crowded frontcourt. Domantas Sabonis is the starting center, and Alex Len serves as the primary backup.

Shaedon Sharpe To Miss 4-6 Weeks With Shoulder Injury

October 5th, 2024 at 3:07pm CST by Arthur Hill

Shooting guard Shaedon Sharpe has suffered a small posterior labral tear in his left shoulder and will likely be sidelined four to six weeks, the Trail Blazers announced (via Twitter). Sharpe underwent an MRI this week that confirmed the injury.

It’s a frustrating way to start the season for Portland, which is counting on the 21-year-old to be one of the cornerstones of its youth movement. Sharpe underwent core muscle surgery last season and was limited to 32 games, averaging 15.9 points, 5.0 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 33.1 minutes per night.

He was fully recovered by summer and was able to take part in a pre-Olympic camp with Team Canada. He also played in an August pro-am game in Vancouver.

After being selected with the seventh pick in the 2022 draft, Sharpe showed flashed of stardom in his first season as the Blazers began moving toward a younger roster. He’ll be eligible for a rookie scale extension next summer, so it would benefit him to have a healthy season.

A four-week absence would have Sharpe back in the lineup by November 2, which means he would only miss six games. If the injury keeps him out the full six weeks, he’ll be sidelined for an additional seven games.

Bulls Notes: Ball, Buzelis, Dosunmu, Williams, Giddey

October 5th, 2024 at 2:15pm CST by Arthur Hill

It’s only been a few days of training camp, but Bulls guard Lonzo Ball is optimistic about the progress of his left knee, writes Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune. Ball is trying to salvage his NBA career after missing the past two and half seasons with knee issues that required multiple surgeries. He’s not a full participant in camp drills and he’s being closely monitored by the medical staff, but Ball is encouraged so far, especially after taking part in a scrimmage on Friday and being able to play at full speed with normal contact.

“Today was probably my best day,” he told reporters after Friday’s practice. “It’s getting better each time.”

Ball realizes that he doesn’t possess the same physical qualities that he did before the injuries, Poe adds. His first step isn’t as quick, he doesn’t have his former speed on defense and his jumper is a little off-balance as he works to rebuild the strength in his legs. Coach Billy Donovan is urging him to compensate by relying on the mental part of his game, which is sharper than ever.

“He can take a situation that looks three-on-three and just by a pass to a certain area of the floor, can make it three-on-two, just out of feel,” Donovan said. “That’s the one thing I think for him that will never go away. He’s just such a high-IQ player and knows the game so well. The way he plays, he makes people around him better.”

There’s more on the Bulls:

Lottery pick Matas Buzelis has impressed teammates with his athleticism in training camp, but he may not have a clear path to playing time, Poe states in a separate story. She notes that the Bulls tend to keep their draft picks in the NBA even if they’re not playing regularly so they can learn how to be professionals. Donovan said Buzelis will only be sent to the G League if the need arises to give him consistent minutes, and Buzelis is OK with that option. “I’m always going to listen to the organization,” he said. “So if they tell me I got to be in the G League, I’m gonna be in the G League. That’s fine with me. But I’m gonna work my way up to the top team.”
Ayo Dosunmu is ready to “elevate” in his fourth NBA season, per Joe Cowley of The Chicago-Sun Times. Dosunmu spent the summer developing counters to his drives to the basket and improving his ability to read defenses, especially in the pick-and-roll. “The NBA, it’s a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately league,” he said, citing the need to improve every offseason. “No one cares about what you did your rookie year or last year. You have to keep proving yourself.”
Patrick Williams understands the expectations are different after he landed a five-year, $90MM extension this summer, Cowley adds in another Sun-Times piece. Williams said the Bulls want him to become a team leader, improve his rebounding and take over as the primary defensive stopper after trading away Alex Caruso.
Josh Giddey is still recovering from an ankle injury he suffered during the Olympics, but he was able to take part in most of Friday’s scrimmage, tweets K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.

Oldest, Youngest Players On NBA Rosters For 2024/25

October 5th, 2024 at 12:58pm CST by Luke Adams

For a second straight fall, Lakers star LeBron James will enter the NBA season as the league’s oldest player.

James will turn 40 before the calendar year is over, making him the only active NBA player in his 40s — and the first one since longtime Heat big man Udonis Haslem retired a year ago.

It’s an impressive feat, given the high level James is still performing at. Most of the other names on our list of the 10 oldest players on NBA training camp rosters are role players at this stage of their careers. A handful of them will spend much of their time this season sitting on their respective teams’ benches and providing “veteran leadership.” LeBron is the only one still supplying star-level production.

While this group doesn’t feature a ton of star power beyond James, that could change in the not-too-distant future — Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant are among the NBA players born in 1988 who could find their way onto this list in the next year or two as some older vets call it a career.

It’s also worth noting that this list is subject to change. Maybe a veteran like Wesley Matthews finds a new NBA home by opening night. Maybe one of these players will be cut in the coming weeks — I wouldn’t expect that to happen, but it’s worth noting that a couple of the veterans listed below don’t have fully guaranteed salaries.

For now, here’s the list of the oldest players in the league heading into the 2024/25 NBA season:

LeBron James, Lakers (born 12/30/1984)
P.J. Tucker, Clippers (born 5/5/1985)
Chris Paul, Spurs (born 5/6/1985)
Taj Gibson, Hornets (born 6/24/1985) *
Kyle Lowry, Sixers (born 3/25/1986)
Garrett Temple, Raptors (born 5/8/1986)
Al Horford, Celtics (born 6/3/1986)
Jeff Green, Rockets (born 8/28/1986)
James Johnson, Pacers (born 2/20/1987) *
Joe Ingles, Timberwolves (born 10/2/1987)

Note: Players marked with an asterisk (*) are on partially guaranteed contracts.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, nine of this year’s 10 youngest NBA players were selected in the 2024 draft, while the 10th was an undrafted free agent.

The Wizards and Clippers each have two players on this list. That’s not a shock for a Washington team that’s in the midst of a thorough rebuild and is willing to be patient as it looks to develop long-term cornerstones. It’s a little more surprising for a Clippers team that has been one of the league’s oldest in recent years, but it’s perhaps a signal of the club’s changing priorities following the offseason loss of Paul George.

Here are the 10 youngest players currently on NBA rosters:

Ulrich Chomche, Raptors (born 12/30/2005) *
Tidjane Salaun, Hornets (born 8/10/2005)
Nikola Topic, Thunder (born 8/10/2005)
Pacome Dadiet, Knicks (born 7/27/2005)
Cam Christie, Clippers (born 7/24/2005)
Carlton Carrington, Wizards (born 7/21/2005)
Ron Holland, Pistons (born 7/7/2005)
Alex Sarr, Wizards (born 4/26/2005)
Zaccharie Risacher, Hawks (born 4/8/2005)
Trentyn Flowers, Clippers (born 3/8/2005) *

Note: Players marked with an asterisk (*) are on two-way contracts.

Only 11 players currently on NBA rosters were born in 2005 — the 11th is Timberwolves guard Rob Dillingham, whose birthday is January 4.

That means last year’s youngest player, Grizzlies forward GG Jackson, just narrowly missed making the cut for a second straight year. He won’t turn 20 until December 17.

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International Notes: McGruder, Pokusevski, Abu Dhabi, International Stars, Korkmaz

October 5th, 2024 at 11:39am CST by Tristan Tucker

Former NBA guard Rodney McGruder has signed with Italian club Reyer Venezia, according to a release from the team (hat tip to Sportando).

McGruder appeared in 317 games (132 starts) from 2016-23, registering career averages of 5.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per contest. He played most extensively for the Heat during that time, making 112 of his starts in a Miami uniform. In his first season in the league, McGruder finished in eighth in Rookie of the Year voting after starting in 65 of the Heat’s games. He dealt with an injury the following year but opened the 2018/19 season as a full-time starter for Miami, averaging over 10 PPG and shooting just under 40.0% on three-pointers through the New Year.

However, McGruder fell out of the rotation that year and was eventually cut at the end of the season as it became clear the Heat wouldn’t make the postseason. He was waived in order to make room for back-end roster shuffling moves, including the conversion of Duncan Robinson from a two-way deal to a standard contract.

McGruder then played for the Clippers for one season before spending the subsequent three years of his career with the Pistons. Detroit appreciated him as a veteran leader, but opted not to re-sign him in 2023. He landed on an Exhibit 10 deal with the Warriors last offseason but didn’t ultimately make the team. McGruder then played for Olimpia Milano in Italy last season.

We have more international notes:

Former first-rounder Aleksej Pokusevski returned to Europe this offseason, signing with Partizan Belgrade after spending four seasons in the NBA with the Thunder and Hornets. According to Eurohoops, he’s open to an NBA return in the future but is thankful to be with a club that’s helping him develop further. “I think I’ve already gotten better, and that was one of the main reasons I came here,” Pokusevski said. “Overall, we’ve gotten better as a team, we’ve grown closer, and I think it’s going to be a good season for us.” He averaged 7.5 points and 4.6 rebounds in 168 career games (65 starts).
Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak, Abu Dhabi’s chairman of Department of Culture and Tourism, has been a driving force of the NBA’s high-profile preseason games in United Arab Emirates, Brian Windhorst of ESPN writes. The league is deepening its relationship with the Middle East, which is continuing to be a more viable business partner for the NBA, Windhorst explains in a piece highlighting the growing relationship between the two sides.
Luka Doncic, Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo have requested to NBA commissioner Adam Silver that the NBA host games in their respective home countries of Slovenia, Serbia and Greece, according to Sportando. “It’s a difficult task because hosting these games requires an incredible amount of resources and, frankly, it doesn’t make financial sense as a one-off event,” Silver said, per Sportando. “It works in places like Mexico City, Paris or here in Abu Dhabi because it is part of a long-term initiative. I really appreciate the enthusiasm of the fans in Serbia, Slovenia and Greece, as well as the efforts of players like Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Doncic to bring NBA games to their countries. But it is not easy to organize. We will continue to explore this possibility, even though the cost of organizing these events increases every year. I want to find a way to honor these great players”
After signing with AS Monaco this offseason, Furkan Korkmaz suffered a leg injury, according to BasketNews. He’s expected to miss multiple weeks as a result of the ailment.

Heat Notes: Adebayo, Offense, Johnson, Larsson, Herro, Rozier

October 5th, 2024 at 10:22am CST by Tristan Tucker

Heat star center Bam Adebayo continues to be a selfless member of Miami’s core, Ira Winderman of South Florida’s Sun Sentinel writes. Even though he could have potentially made significantly more next year if he made an All-NBA team or was named Defensive Player of the Year, Adebayo agreed to a three-year, $166MM extension with the Heat this summer. He explained the decision to go ahead and sign the contract now.

“Got to be smart,” Adebayo said. “First you take care of things now. And after two years, I can opt out and get it then. … I know what I am and where I should be, but those things are voted on by the media. They don’t play against me. They don’t know, no offense to them, what it takes.”

He also pointed to Florida’s lack of state income tax for a reason to put pen to paper now.

We have more from the Heat:

Outside excitement regarding Adebayo being part of two-big lineups has percolated since his rookie season when he was playing behind Hassan Whiteside. This summer playing next to Anthony Davis in the Olympics showed Adebayo is more than capable of such a task, Anthony Chiang of the Miami Herald writes. Playing next to an anchor post like rookie Kel’el Ware is an idea that excites Adebayo. “It would take a lot more off my plate to do other things,” Adebayo said. “So when people move that goalpost for me with [Defensive Player of the Year] or All-NBA, it’s just like I get why they move it — my stats aren’t eye-popping. But it’s like if I’m guarding one through five and y’all are saying I can’t get DPOY, well there’s not a lot of DPOYs getting 20 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. And there’s not a lot of All-NBA players getting top five in DPOY voting every year. It’s just that the goal post moves for me.“
The Heat know their offense needs to get better than it has been in the past two seasons, Chiang writes in a separate piece. Head coach Erik Spoelstra has gone back to the drawing board this offseason to look for solutions and several players commended the new-look offensive scheme in camp, which has a focus on getting easy buckets in transition. During scrimmages, the Heat have adjusted scoring to count dunks and layups as three points and mid-range shots as one-pointers. “That just shows you how much emphasis we’re putting on getting wide-open threes and wide-open layups or shots at the basket,” Jaime Jaquez said. “I’m excited about it and I think the guys are, as well. It’s going to be a fun fast-paced year and we’re all excited for it.“
Heat executive and former captain Udonis Haslem is impressed with what he’s seen on the defensive end from rookies Pelle Larsson and Keshad Johnson, Winderman writes. “Pelle and KJ for sure are letting us know they are here,” Haslem said. “They can blow up pick-and-rolls, they can get over, they can get through, they can get under. Once they get the schemes and everything, they have the mentality. They’ll be great for us.” The Heat lost Caleb Martin to free agency, so there will theoretically be some minutes available behind Haywood Highsmith for defensive wing stoppers.
Both Tyler Herro and Terry Rozier struggled through injuries last season but are in good places entering training camp with Miami, Winderman pens in another piece. “This is home for me,” Herro said of the Heat. “I hope to be here for a while. We’re coming into my sixth season now. It’s crazy how fast time goes.“

Southwest Notes: Grimes, LaRavia, Sheppard, Castle, Barnes

October 5th, 2024 at 9:15am CST by Tristan Tucker

The Mavericks acquired young guard Quentin Grimes this offseason, providing him with a change of scenery that brings him closer to his hometown of Houston, Mike Curtis of The Dallas Morning News writes. Grimes believes his skill set can help a Dallas team looking to head back to the NBA Finals.

“I feel like with the unselfishness and the amount of freedom everybody has, I’ll be able to show more like how I did in New York,” Grimes said. “Whenever somebody was down and injured, I was always able to show more of my offensive game.”

Grimes has a history of helping playoff teams. In his second season in the league with the Knicks, he averaged 11.3 points per game while making 66 starts. In his nine playoff appearances, he started six games and helped New York reach the second round. However, injuries and inconsistent shooting led to Grimes being traded from New York to Detroit, and he was rerouted again to Dallas this offseason.

The Mavericks got plenty of help on the wing this offseason, adding Klay Thompson and Naji Marshall alongside Grimes. Curtis writes that Thompson has taken Grimes under his wing through training camp and that the former could serve as a model for the latter.

“I’ve been trying to talk his ear off the whole time,” Grimes said of Thompson. “I shoot with him almost every day after practice. He’s just been a really good mentor for me, just telling me little things about my shot and how to get easier shots off pin-downs. They call it the ‘Klay action’ for a reason. Just learning from one of the greatest shooters to play is going to only elevate my game.”

We have more from the Southwest Division:

Grizzlies forward Jake LaRavia has been one of the primary standouts of training camp, Damichael Cole of The Memphis Commercial Appeal writes (subscriber link). The Wake Forest product was part of an up-and-down 2022 Grizzlies draft class that also included David Roddy, Kennedy Chandler and Vince Williams. LaRavia didn’t play many minutes his first season and didn’t dress much at the beginning of 2023/24, but he played 28.5 minutes per night across his final 24 appearances last season, averaging 14.1 points and making 36.4% of his 5.5 three-point attempts per game.
Fred VanVleet was a common draft comparison for what Reed Sheppard could do in the NBA, so it’s only fitting that the two ended up on the same team. Now, as Jonathan Feigen of Houston Chronicle writes, VanVleet is serving as a mentor for the Rockets‘ rookie. “He was talking the whole time, just encouraging me,” Sheppard said. “He’s been great. A great leader and a great role model, for sure.“
Spurs rookie No. 4 overall pick Stephon Castle is turning heads this summer, Jeff McDonald of The San Antonio Express-News writes. “He never gets rushed or sped up or anything,” teammate Tre Jones said. “He goes at his own pace.” Chris Paul was also complimentary of Castle’s demeanor and how he was coached in college.
Harrison Barnes has been at the center of the Spurs‘ chemistry-building efforts this offseason, according to The San Antonio Express-News’ Tom Orsborn. He’s been organizing dinners with the team and trying to lead younger players by example. “Camaraderie off the court feeds into how we play on the court,” Barnes said. “Guys have been great communicating with the group chat and with dinners we have done. That is going to bode well for us down the line.“

Eastern Notes: Stewart, Raptors, Dick, Lillard, Martin

October 4th, 2024 at 11:15pm CST by Luke Adams

The Pistons‘ usage of Isaiah Stewart in recent years – and the players they’ve put around him – reflected the fact that they viewed him as a power forward rather than a center. Detroit used a lottery pick on center Jalen Duren in 2022 and encouraged Stewart to shoot more from outside. While the big man has gamely accepted that role, making a career-best 1.5 three-pointers per game last season on 38.3% shooting, he couldn’t hide his enthusiasm this week about playing more at the five, his preferred position, writes Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press.

“(New head coach) J.B. (Bickerstaff) loves my physicality and me playing strong down low, like in my early years in the league with my offensive rebounding and stuff like that,” Stewart said. “I spent a lot of time this offseason at the five and I’m looking forward to it. I’m looking forward to getting back down in the paint, banging and doing what I do because at the end of the day, that’s what I love to do. That’s who I am.

“Playing the four, that was something that I had to work on and add to my game because I was being asked of it. Now I’m happy I get to play some five.”

As Sankofa explains, there are a few factors contributing to the Pistons’ desire to have Stewart spend more time at center this season. The arrival of power forward Tobias Harris is one. Stewart also has the ability to make more of an impact as a rebounder and rim protector if he’s spending more time in the paint.

As excited as he is about spending more time at center, the 23-year-old stressed that he’s willing to play wherever the team needs him.

“I don’t mind at all playing the four, because it’s something I can do,” Stewart said. “I can knock down the 3-point shot, I can space the floor, but we all know it’s something that’s new to me. … The four, it ain’t nothing wrong with it. But me, I love to bang. I love to be physical. I love to set the tone. I love to set great screens for my teammates. I like playing the five. But I don’t mind at all playing the four. I can do both.”

Here’s more from around the Eastern Conference:

While Bruce Brown would’ve been an option to start at shooting guard for the Raptors if he were healthy, Michael Grange of Sportsnet views second-year sharpshooter Gradey Dick as the most logical candidate for that spot. As Grange outlines, besides looking like a good fit for spacing purposes, Dick is Toronto’s most recent lottery pick and has the potential to raise the club’s long-term ceiling if he develops into a reliable starter.
In interviews with Alex Squadron of SLAM and Melissa Rohlin of FOX Sports, Bucks point guard Damian Lillard spoke about why he’s optimistic about the upcoming season in Milwaukee after going through what he called the “toughest year of my life” on both a personal and professional level last season. “I think a lot of times people talk about revenge seasons, it’s like they’re going out for blood with everybody else,” Lillard told Rohlin. “But I think it’s the revenge of something I need to go take back for me, not for anybody else. I know what went into last season. And I know what goes into me being my best. That’s all I’m focusing on.”
Hornets forward Cody Martin sustained a laceration on his thumb and sprained his right wrist while attempting to block a shot at the rim in training camp, the team announced today (via Twitter). It doesn’t sound like either injury is considered serious – he’s listed as day-to-day – but Martin has been ruled out of Charlotte’s preseason opener.

Northwest Notes: Hartenstein, Avdija, Westbrook, Nuggets, Jazz

October 4th, 2024 at 9:37pm CST by Luke Adams

Speaking to reporters this week for the first time as a member of the Thunder, Isaiah Hartenstein said all the right things about his potential role, as Rylan Stiles of SI.com relays.

There has been plenty of debate in Oklahoma City this summer about whether the team’s major free agent addition will start or come off the bench, given the presence of Rookie of the Year runner-up Chet Holmgren at center. For his part, Hartenstein sidestepped that discourse, telling the media that he trusts head coach Mark Daigneault‘s judgment in managing the lineup and rotation.

“Whatever he does, he’s a really versatile coach. I mean, you watched last year. Some games the guys who would start would start the second half,” Hartenstein said. “(I’m) just being here and doing whatever the team needs to win. If that’s coming off the bench or starting, I’m just here to help the team win. That’s the main thing.”

Here’s more from around the Northwest:

Having been traded from Washington to the Trail Blazers in July, Deni Avdija admitted it initially felt “kind of weird” to join a new team, but added that he’s adjusting quickly, according to Aaron Fentress of The Oregonian. “They’ve embraced me, they love me and they want me to get better,” Avdija said. “And I feel like that’s what you need as a new guy joining the team. I feel like my teammates support me, coaches. I feel at home.” Head coach Chauncey Billups referred to Avdija as a “Swiss Army knife-type of dude,” lauding the forward’s play-making, passing, screening, and shooting while noting that the plan is to use him “all over” the court.
The addition of Russell Westbrook represents the “ultimate chemistry experiment” for the Nuggets, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic, who says the move has the potential to blow up — or to help Denver win another title. Westbrook shot just 3-of-10 from the floor in his preseason debut on Friday in Abu Dhabi, but had 12 points and eight assists in 19 minutes, with Denver outscoring Boston by four points during that time. “I thought Russ had some good moments out there,” head coach Michael Malone said, per Bennett Durando of The Denver Post. “Obviously playing downhill, putting pressure on the defense, getting his teammates involved. So overall for his first game after a week or so of practice, I think there are gonna be some positives, and like everybody else in that locker room, there are plenty of things that we can clean up as well.”
Although Christian Braun started at shooting guard on Friday, Malone said that both Braun and Julian Strawther will get an opportunity to play with the Nuggets‘ starters during the preseason, tweets Durando.
Reporting throughout the offseason indicated the Jazz plan to lean heavily on their young players in 2024/25, which will serve the dual purpose of letting Utah thoroughly assess its recent first-round picks while also potentially lining up the club for another high first-round pick next June. Head coach Will Hardy‘s comments this week reinforced the notion that winning games isn’t “the absolutely priority” for the team this season, writes Andy Larsen of The Salt Lake Tribune. “Going into this season, I think our vision is very clear: This is an opportunity for us to really invest in our youth,” Hardy said.

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