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Sixers Injury Updates: Noel, Bayless, Simmons

October 21st, 2016 at 7:01pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Sixers have a number of key personnel dealing with injury woes. The team issued a press release today on three of those players, updating their statuses:

Beginning with Nerlens Noel, the center has been diagnosed with an inflamed plica on his left knee after consulting with multiple specialists. Noel has elected to address the injury via a minor surgical procedure, which will be performed in the near future, per the team. Philadelphia did not provide a timetable for how long the big man would be out of action, though, it is reasonable to expect an update after the surgery has been performed. Noel has also been nursing a strained groin, so some time in street clothes was already in the cards for the player. The loss of Noel will give the team an opportunity to see how Jahlil Okafor and Joel Embiid perform together, though, Embiid’s playing time will be limited as the team will play it safe with the former No. 3 overall pick.
Philadelphia provided an update on another former lottery pick — Ben Simmons. The forward, who underwent successful surgery to repair an acute Jones fracture of the fifth metatarsal of his right foot on October 4th, recently had his two-week, post-operative exam. Simmons had his sutures removed and is continuing to progress with his day-to-day rehabilitation and recovery under the guidance of Sixers Director of Performance Research & Development Dr. David T. Martin, and Sixers Director of Physiotherapy and Clinical Diagnostics Scott Epsley, the team relays. According to a report from Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Simmons is currently projected to return to basketball activities in January.
Finally, the Sixers relayed that Jerryd Bayless will pursue a non-surgical option to address the nagging issues he is experiencing with his injured left wrist. Bayless has been limited to non-contact, individualized workouts since training camp due to the ligament injury. The guard will continue to rehab the wrist and will be re-evaluated in two weeks time, per the release.

Injury Updates On Ben Simmons, Cameron Payne

October 4th, 2016 at 1:17pm CST by Luke Adams

First overall pick Ben Simmons underwent successful surgery to repair an acute Jones fracture on the fifth metatarsal of his right foot, the Sixers announced today in a press release. Word of Simmons’ foot injury first broke on Friday, with reports over the weekend suggesting the forward was likely to undergo surgery.

Within their announcement today, the Sixers didn’t provide a timetable for Simmons’ recovery and potential return, suggesting that additional information will “be provided as available and when appropriate.” However, reports have indicated that the 20-year-old will likely be sidelined for three months, and there are whispers that agent Rich Paul may want his client to sit out the entire season to be safe.

Meanwhile, another young prospect with a foot injury, Thunder guard Cameron Payne, won’t go under the knife. According to Royce Young of ESPN.com (Twitter links), the Thunder will have Payne sit for six to eight weeks before being re-evaluated. though surgery could still be an option if the bone isn’t healing properly.

Payne underwent Jones fracture surgery to his right foot in July but recovered quickly and was cleared to practice when training camp opened. He went through full contact during Oklahoma City’s first two days of practice before suffering another foot fracture during a scrimmage last Tuesday.

Atlantic Notes: Simmons, McCullough, Noah

October 3rd, 2016 at 9:01pm CST by Eddie Scarito

The Sixers are still coming to terms with the injury to No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons, who is expected to undergo surgery in the near future due to a broken foot he suffered during practice last week, Aaron Carter of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes. Dealing with injuries is nothing new to the team as of late, coach Brett Brown noted. “There is nobody, sadly, that’s had more experience dealing with injured draft picks than we have,” Brown said. “So over the course of time, you learn how to best deal with it. There needs to be, there has been, and we’ll get better this time, a holistic approach to the person. There needs to be understanding that there’s an opportunity to educate [Simmons] in the film room, watching different NBA players and teaching him. There might be an opportunity where we sit him in a chair and remake his shot, rebuild his shot, and really spend time with the fundamentals of his shot.”

The loss of Simmons will open up a larger opportunity for rookie forward Dario Saric, Carter adds. “That’s where my head goes to first,” Brown said. “Dario will have more opportunities, responsibilities. I think how we rotate this group now will change. We will learn a lot. The preseason’s really going to be good for us in that regard.”

Here’s more from the Eastern Conference:

The Nets need to replace Thaddeus Young, who was the starter at power forward last season, and if he has a solid preseason, it may be with 2015 first-rounder Chris McCullough, Anthony Puccio of NetsDaily notes. “That’s a spot that’s open,” coach Kenny Atkinson said of the four spot, adding that the Brooklyn has ‘versatile bigs’ in guys like McCullough, Luis Scola, Justin Hamilton and Anthony Bennett. McCullough, 21, only appeared in 24 games in 2015/16, missing the beginning of the season as he recovered from a torn Achilles he suffered in college.
Knicks center Joakim Noah is nursing a minor hamstring injury and is likely to sit out Tuesday’s preseason opener against the Celtics as a precautionary measure, Ebenezer Samuel of The New York Daily News relays. The big man did not practice today as a result of the malady, the scribe adds.
Shooting guard Avery Bradley wants to be known as the best defender in the NBA and understands that for him to garner that honor, his Celtics teammates will also have to up their play on the defensive end, A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com relays.

Ben Simmons’ Agent Wants Him To Sit Out Season?

October 3rd, 2016 at 6:20pm CST by Eddie Scarito

No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons is expected to miss at least three months of action due to his broken right foot, which will likely require surgery to correct. But if Simmons’ agent, Rich Paul, has anything to say about it, the forward won’t see the court again this season, Bob Cooney of The Philadelphia Daily News relayed today during an appearance on Philly’s 97.5 FM.

Speaking to 97.5’s Mike Missanelli, Cooney said, “I just got off the phone with somebody who I really trust in the NBA, and he’s like there’s no way his agent is going to let him play this year. That’s an injury that you don’t mess around with, and he thinks he’s going to keep him off his feet all year.”

While it isn’t Paul’s decision to make regarding whether or not Simmons plays or not this season, any schism between the player’s camp and the organization would not be a productive way to begin their long-term relationship. However, if the team did make the determination to play it safe and shelve Simmons for 2016/17, it would be the same strategy the team used for Nerlens Noel and twice for Joel Embiid.

It would also help ensure that Simmons is fully recovered before making his NBA debut. An X-ray taken revealed that Simmons has a Zone 2 fracture, which is more commonly called a Jones fracture. With that type of break comes a greater chance of another fracture occurring. Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer compared Simmons’ situation to that of Oklahoma City guard Cameron Payne, who had surgery on a Jones fracture July 25th, then got hurt again last week during training camp, breaking the fifth metatarsal in his right foot. A similar injury cost Kevin Durant most of the 2014/15 season.

While it can be argued that the Sixers wouldn’t make the playoffs even with a healthy Simmons, there are other issues at play, Dan Feldman of NBCSports.com notes. There were questions regarding Simmons’ attitude during his lone season at LSU, with the player being accused of not giving his all during the Tigers’ disappointing season. Attempting to force the team’s hand if he is medically cleared to play by team doctors wouldn’t help change perceptions regarding Simmons’ drive and work ethic, Feldman adds.

What do you think? Should the Sixers play it safe and keep Simmons on the shelf for the entire season in an attempt to prevent further injury, even if he’s given the OK to return by his doctors? Or do you think he should return to action if medically cleared during the 2016/17 campaign? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below.

Atlantic Notes: Simmons, Celtics, Knicks

October 2nd, 2016 at 2:06pm CST by Will Joseph

The Sixers are still evaluating the next course of action in regards to Ben Simmons, who recently suffered a foot injury, and a decision is getting close, team president Bryan Colangelo told reporters, including Derek Bodner of Philly Mag (Twitter link). Colangelo added it is likely that Simmons will have surgery, but it has not been 100% determined yet, Bodner tweets. Marc Stein of ESPN.com reported Saturday that the No. 1 overall pick will undergo surgery this coming week.

Here’s more from around the Atlantic Division:

Colangelo does not seem to believe the injury will have a lasting impact on Simmons, and told reporters, “This is an injury that he should come back from and have a very successful and long career,” Jessica Camerato of CSNPhilly.com tweets. Colangelo also said the team would not rush him back, Camerato, relays.
Celtics guard Terry Rozier has emerged as one of the early standouts at camp, Chris Forsberg of ESPN.com relays. Rozier, who is entering his second year, showed promise as a rookie but wasn’t always consistent, Forsberg adds. crowded backcourt that includes Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley as starters and Marcus Smart as a key reserve, as Forsberg notes.
Derrick Rose’s stock has never been lower, but because his potential as a difference-maker remains high, it was a good move for the Knicks to land him, Moke Hamilton of Basketball Insiders opines.

Western Notes: Ingram, Motiejunas, Daniels, Warren

October 1st, 2016 at 9:58pm CST by Arthur Hill

Friday’s injury to Ben Simmons has validated Brandon Ingram‘s decision to be careful about adding weight, writes Baxter Holmes of ESPN.com. Earlier this week, Simmons told reporters that he put on 33 pounds since leaving LSU. Ingram knows he needs to bulk up his 190-pound frame to handle the rigorous NBA game, but he prefers to do it slowly to reduce the risk of injury. The Lakers rookie has abandoned a 5,000-calorie-per-day program that he was practicing before the NBA draft. “As I’m going through the process, it’s as much good weight I can put on during the year,” he said. “Of course in the summer, you can go a different route and try to gain as much weight as you can. During the season, [I’m] just trying to maintain a weight.”

There’s more news out of the Western Conference:

The agent for Donatas Motiejunas took another shot at the Rockets on Twitter as today’s midnight deadline for his client’s $4.4MM qualifying offer approaches. “When analytics can measure human behavior, then and only then will I find them useful,” tweeted B.J. Armstrong. It was an apparent swipe at Houston GM Daryl Morey, who is known as one of the NBA’s top believers in using statistical analysis to rate players. A technicality gives the Rockets the option to extend the offer past the deadline, tweets Eric Pincus of Basketball Insiders, but he doubts that they will. Motiejunas is the last restricted free agent still without a contract.
Troy Daniels will have plenty of freedom to shoot from new Grizzlies coach David Fizdale, according to Ronald Tillery of The Memphis Commercial Appeal. Memphis picked up the sharpshooter in a sign-and-trade deal with the Hornets in July. The Grizzlies are Daniels’ fourth team as he enters his fourth NBA season, and Fizdale said the light for him to put up 3-point shots is “beyond green.” “I told him if you pass up a 3-pointer you’ll be sitting next to me,” Fizdale said. “I’d rather him shoot it and get it blocked or shoot an air ball before he passes up a 3.”
The Suns‘ T.J. Warren is fully recovered from the broken foot that ended his season in January, writes Tyler Emerick of NBA.com. The third-year player could see increased minutes at the start of the season with P.J. Tucker recovering from a back injury. “T.J. has been great all training camp,” said teammate Eric Bledsoe. “I can’t stop talking about him. He looks great.”

Atlantic Notes: Simmons, VanVleet, Rose

October 1st, 2016 at 9:00pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Sixers should consider sitting out Ben Simmons for the entire season while he recovers from foot surgery, argues Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. It would be the same strategy the team used for Nerlens Noel and twice for Joel Embiid, and it would ensure that Simmons is fully recovered before making his NBA debut. An X-ray revealed that Simmons has a Zone 2 fracture, which is more commonly called a Jones fracture. With that type of break comes a greater chance of another fracture occurring. Pompey compares Simmons’ situation to that of Oklahoma City guard Cameron Payne, who had surgery on a Jones fracture July 25th, then got hurt again Tuesday in training camp, breaking the fifth metatarsal in his right foot. A similar injury cost Kevin Durant most of the 2014/15 season.

There’s more out of the Atlantic Division:

Fred VanVleet is trying to forget about his draft snub as he works to earn a spot on the Raptors‘ roster, relays Mike Ganter of The Toronto Sun. VanVleet was a leader on some very successful teams at Wichita State, but didn’t have the standout athletic ability that impresses scouts. “When you line me up as an athletic prospect against the best guys in the world, I’m not going be very high on that board,” he said. “But when we are taking about basketball players? I’ll just say sometimes you have to evaluate what you are looking for. I don’t trust that everybody knows what they are talking about. Those guys get paid to do what they do and I’m not questioning anybody who didn’t draft me. It is what it is. I ended up in a great place in a great situation.” With Delon Wright still recovering from a shoulder injury in summer league, VanVleet has a chance to make the Raptors as a backup point guard.
Derrick Rose‘s $21.5MM civil sex assault trial begins Tuesday, but he plans to be with the Knicks for a preseason game in Houston, writes Marc Berman of The New York Post. “I’ll figure out anything a little bit later when I get into the city, but for right now they are allowing me to just be with the team,” Rose said. “I haven’t heard anything legal-wise.” In his first year with the Knicks after a summer trade, Rose said he had his best camp ever.
Knicks coach Jeff Hornacek has been impressed by Spanish center Willy Hernangomez, tweets Ian Begley of ESPN.com. Hornacek said the 22-year-old Hernangomez, who signed with the team in July, “looks like he’s a 10-year vet out there in terms of his calmness when he’s playing.”

Ben Simmons Fractures Bone In Foot

October 1st, 2016 at 4:20pm CST by Eddie Scarito

4:20pm: Simmons is expected to be out of action for three months following surgery, according to ESPN’s Jeff Goodman (Twitter link).

SATURDAY, 1:43pm: The doctors who have examined Simmons believe he suffered an “acute injury” to the foot that was unrelated to his recent weight gain, Marc Stein of ESPN.com reports (via Twitter). The current plan is for Simmons to undergo surgery this coming week, Stein adds.

FRIDAY, 5:40pm: The Sixers received some bad news today regarding forward Ben Simmons, who suffered a fractured bone in his right foot, the team relayed via press release. It’s unclear how long this malady will keep Simmons out of action, with the team saying that further medical evaluation and treatment options are currently being considered. Philadelphia will release a timetable for Simmons’ return once more information is available.

Simmons rolled his right ankle during the team’s scrimmage earlier today and was taken in for an MRI, which revealed the broken bone. It was determined that the rookie fractured the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot. The forward becomes the latest lottery pick of the Sixers to have an injury interrupt or derail his rookie campaign, with Nerlens Noel sitting out his first season and Joel Embiid missing his first two campaigns in the league.

The No. 1 overall pick played six summer league games for Philly, averaging 10.8 points, 7.7 rebounds and 5.5 assists. Simmons had averaged 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists during his lone season at LSU.

Atlantic Notes: Carroll, Rose, Kuzminskas

September 30th, 2016 at 10:31pm CST by Eddie Scarito

DeMarre Carroll‘s first season with the Raptors after signing with the team as a free agent was marred by injury, with him seeing action in only 26 games as a result. While he’s still not 100% recovered, Carroll hopes his second campaign in Toronto is more productive, The Associated Press relays. “I look at it as basically my first season [with Toronto],” the 30-year-old Carroll said. “A new season, a new beginning. I’ve just got to come in and get back to playing DeMarre Carroll basketball when I’m healthy.” Speaking about the steps he took to prepare his injured knee for a return to the court, Carroll said, “We took a hard approach about it and we did it the right way. Last season it was more of a rush, trying to get me back. We didn’t go through the whole thing we needed to go through to get the knee to where it needs to be. I feel that we’re on the right track.”

Here’s more out of the Atlantic:

Not only is Derrick Rose getting used to a new city and new teammates, he’s also attempting to acclimate to the Knicks‘ triangle offense, which isn’t an easy task, Ian Begley of ESPN.com writes. “It’s complicated a little bit right now because it’s new to us. It’s foreign. But I think the more we work on it and the way the coaches are putting it into the offense, it’s [going to get] little bit easier,” Rose said after Thursday’s practice. “[There’s] like 40 to 50 options on one side of the floor. It’s like giving you your space for creativity. It’s like if you’re doing it the right way, you could do everything you want, you could freelance but you just got to know where you’re going.”
The Knicks are pleased with the outside shooting of rookie Mindaugas Kuzminskas, who may end up being Carmelo Anthony‘s primary backup at small forward, Marc Berman of The New York Post writes. “He’s a guy that with his size, got agility, you can look at him at the 2 or 3,’’ coach Jeff Hornacek said. “There could be times we use his length at the 2 spot. He’s a guy who cuts — cutters open everything up. The stat’s not in the paper. You don’t get glory from it but it’s a huge part.’’
Dario Saric‘s athleticism and versatility is earning him praise from the Sixers coaching staff and is setting the rookie forward apart from the other members of the team’s crowded frontcourt, Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer writes.

Sixers Notes: Rodriguez, Stauskas, Bayless, Simmons

September 29th, 2016 at 6:47pm CST by Arthur Hill

Sixers coach Brett Brown is enjoying the luxury of having veteran leaders in camp this season, writes Brian Seltzer of NBA.com. The Philadelphia front office has been criticized in past years for not putting experienced players on the roster to guide the team’s young talent. Over the summer, the Sixers added free agents Jerryd Bayless, Gerald Henderson and Sergio Rodriguez and re-signed Elton Brand. Brown seemed particularly impressed with Rodriguez, who has 10 years of professional experience between the NBA and Spain, along with two Olympic appearances. “He just has a real gift for understanding especially offensive tempo,” Brown said. “I think he’s got a bounce to his game and a pace to his game that he will be absorbed in how I want to play.”

There’s more training camp news from the Sixers:

Entering his second season in Philadelphia, Nik Stauskas finally feels comfortable in the NBA, relays Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer. After being picked eighth overall by the Kings in 2014, Stauskas has produced two lackluster seasons, but he sounds ready for a turnaround this year. “I have a confidence that I know I belong here now,” he said. “The first two years, there’s so many times that I’m trying to fit in. I go to bed at night and I wonder, do I really belong here? Like, is this where I was meant to be? I think this is the first time in my NBA career where I said I know I belong here.”
Bayless was on the Bucks team that was a surprise playoff participant two years ago and he sees similarities with the current Sixers squad, Pompey writes in a separate piece. “That’s not a promise or anything,” Bayless added. “But at the same time, if we follow the path, and we play defense on a nightly basis, you never know what can happen. We just want to continue to get better.”
Brown is working on combinations in camp involving rookies Ben Simmons and Dario Saric and he plans to use them together during the season, Pompey notes in another story. “I think the pluses are you have 6-10 do-alls that really can jump into a very versatile defensive world with perhaps a lot of switching,” Brown said. “I think they are elite defensive rebounders that can rebound, lead a break, and take off.”