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Kawhi Leonard Aims To Return Soon, Wants To Finish Career With Spurs

March 7th, 2018 at 11:43am CST by Luke Adams

Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard spoke to reporters following the team’s practice on Wednesday, asserting that he still aims to play down the stretch after missing most of the season with a quad injury. While Leonard won’t travel with the club on its upcoming three-game road trip, he said he hopes to be back on the court “soon,” as Tom Orsborn of The San Antonio Express-News details.

“I don’t have a set date right now,” Leonard said. “I just have to keep doing what I’m doing. The progression that I am making has been great. I just have to keep doing what I’m doing.”

There have been whispers throughout the 2017/18 season that Leonard’s injury situation has created some friction between him and the team. Just last month, head coach Gregg Popovich suggested that his star forward may not return at all this season, despite a report later that day indicating that Leonard had received medical clearance to play. Asked today if the treatment of his injury had created issues between him and the Spurs, Leonard downplayed that notion, per Orsborn.

“Everything was done as a group,” Leonard said. “I don’t feel like nothing was friction. I talk to Pop everyday. He knows what the progressions were, he knew what I am doing the whole entire time.”

With reports hinting at possible discord in San Antonio, there has been speculation that Leonard, who is eligible for free agency in 2019, may not be a Spur for the long term. However, he pushed back against that idea as well, according to Orsborn. Asked today if he wanted to finish his career with the franchise, Leonard replied, “Yeah. For sure.”

Of course, if Leonard were to leave San Antonio next year, he wouldn’t be the first player to change teams after expressing a desire to stay. Still, given how quiet he has been for most of this season as rumors and speculation swirled around him, Leonard’s comments today should allow Spurs fans to breathe a little easier.

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NBA G League Assignments/Recalls: 3/4/18

March 4th, 2018 at 4:58pm CST by marksuleymanov

Here are Sunday’s G League assignments and recalls from around the NBA:

  • The Spurs have assigned guard Derrick White to their G League affiliate, the Austin Spurs, the team announced today in a press release. White has averaged 2.5 PPG and 1.4 RPG in 16 games with San Antonio this season.
  • The Bucks recalled rookie power forward D.J. Wilson from the Wisconsin Herd, the team announced on its Twitter feed. The first-round pick is averaging 14.9 PPG and 5.2 RPG in nine G League games.
  • The Wizards have assigned third-year forward Chris McCullough to the G League, according to the team. Washington doesn’t have a G League team of its own, so McCullough will join Phoenix’s affiliate, the Northern Arizona Suns. He has appeared in 12 games with Northern Arizona this season.
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Southwest Notes: Leonard, Johnson, Gasol

March 4th, 2018 at 1:58pm CST by marksuleymanov

Kawhi Leonard‘s health has cast doubt on him returning this season, and his future with the Jordan Brand is also unclear, sources tell ESPN’s Michael C. Wright and Ramona Shelburne. Leonard and Nike were reportedly “very close” to a four-year, $20MM extension but his representatives felt the offer was not reflective of his recent success and standing within the league.

Leonard, 26, has racked up droves of impressive accolades during his seven-year NBA career. He is a two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year, two-time All-Star, NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, and part of the Spurs‘ 2014 championship team. Leonard pockets south of $500K annually on his current deal and his representatives want a deal that reflects the aforementioned accomplishments.

Leonard’s current agreement expires on October 1, but Nike has the option of matching any deal he receives from another brand. Injuries have limited Leonard to just nine games this season but there is optimism he may return later this month.

Check out other Southwest Division notes below:

  • Joe Johnson came to the Rockets as a veteran who can score and provide leadership as the team prepares for the postseason. Injuries have allowed Johnson to see more minutes and he is thrilled to show off his versatility, Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle writes. “As someone who came into the league as a one, two and three, playing the four, I can do things some guys are not as comfortable with,” Johnson said. “We just look to make plays. That’s what it’s about.”
  • Marc Gasol shares an idealist and pure take on the NBA and recent tanking debate — while the Grizzlies are in the midst of a 13-game losing streak, Chris Herrington of the Commercial Appeal relays. “Winning is what this is about. It’s not about somebody playing well, or getting your reps, or developing players. We’ve got a league for that. … This is the NBA, not the D League,” Gasol said.
  • Speaking of the Grizzlies’ losing streak, the team, sporting an 18-44 record, is playing its hardest, but each loss is taking its toll, Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal writes. “You’ve got a bunch of guys who are committed to doing the right thing. And there’s only so many moral victories that you can have,” Grizzlies interim coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “At the end of the day, this is results based but it hurts. And it hurts them because they’re giving so much. They’re competing so hard. You can’t tell me a guy that didn’t leave it all out there tonight. And circumstances are what they are. But like I said, you hurt for these guys. And you want them to be rewarded with a ‘W.’”
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Paul And White Recalled To Spurs

March 3rd, 2018 at 9:10pm CST by clarkcrum
  • One day after assignment, the Spurs have recalled guards Brandon Paul and Derrick White from their G League affiliate, the Austin Spurs, the team announced today in a press release. Paul has averaged 2.5 points and 1.2 rebounds per game in 53 games with San Antonio so far this season, while White is averaging 2.5 points and 1.4 rebounds per game in 16 contests.
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Kawhi Leonard Expected To Remain With Spurs Long-Term?

March 2nd, 2018 at 7:50pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Rumors of friction between the Spurs and Kawhi Leonard developed over the star’s inability to play with his nagging quad injury, but Steve Kyler of Basketball Insiders hears that most of the rift is a result of a lack of communication.

Kyler adds that while the relationship is far from unrepairable, the two sides will need to talk things out once the season is over. The scribe hears that the team isn’t going to make the 2016/17 MVP candidate available in trades.

The Spurs have been “fairly open” with Leonard’s representatives about their willingness to let the situation take its course, though the front office would obviously prefer Leonard to return and get re-acclimated with the team. San Antonio’s medical staff had put the small forward on a program earlier in the season and the doctors cleared him to play at one point. However, Leonard remained in pain and sought additional opinions, which irked the franchise.

Leonard remains in pain today, but he wants nothing more than to put this whole situation behind him and return to the floor. San Antonio entered the night with a record of 36-26, good for fifth in the Western Conference. The team appears to be in decent position to make the postseason, though a deep run will undoubtedly depend on the availability of Leonard and recently injured LaMarcus Aldridge.

The small forward will be a free agent during the summer of 2019, but this offseason, he’ll be eligible for the Designated Veteran Player Exception, a vehicle that could net him in the neighborhood of $250MM.

Sources tell Kyler that Leonard’s situation rivals Aldridge’s situation this past offseason, when a sitdown between coach Gregg Popovich and the power forward was needed to hash out some differences. The open communication led to an extension for Aldridge and the sense around the league is that this will be the second offseason in a row where the Spurs sit down to meet with one of their top players and come away signing him to a long-term pact.

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Spurs Assign Brandon Paul, Derrick White To G League

March 2nd, 2018 at 3:57pm CST by Luke Adams
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Community Shootaround: Western Playoff Race

March 2nd, 2018 at 12:56pm CST by Luke Adams

While it remains to be seen whether the Rockets or Warriors will finish the season as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference, there’s no risk of either team falling below No. 2. Houston currently has a half-game lead on the second-place Warriors and a 12-game lead on the third-place Timberwolves.

After the top two teams in the West though, things get very interesting. As of today, there are seven Western teams separated by just two games in the loss column, with the 10th-seeded Jazz hanging around the race too. Here’s a current snapshot of the standings in the West:

  1. Minnesota Timberwolves (38-27)
  2. Portland Trail Blazers (36-26)
  3. San Antonio Spurs (36-26)
  4. New Orleans Pelicans (35-26)
  5. Oklahoma City Thunder (36-27)
  6. Denver Nuggets (33-28)
  7. Los Angeles Clippers (32-28)
  8. Utah Jazz (31-30)

Several of these teams have lost key players via injury or trade this season. The Timberwolves are currently without Jimmy Butler; Kawhi Leonard has barely played for the Spurs; DeMarcus Cousins is out for the season for the Pelicans; the Thunder will be without Andre Roberson for the season; the Nuggets and Jazz have lost Paul Millsap and Rudy Gobert for big chunks of the season, though both are playing now; and, of course, the Clippers traded Blake Griffin before last month’s deadline.

Of the eight teams vying for the final six playoff spots in the West, only the Spurs (3-7) have a losing record in their last 10 games, with the Trail Blazers (five straight wins) and Pelicans (seven straight wins) among the hottest teams in the group. Still, things could change quickly. Two or three losses in a row could send a team sliding down the standings in the West.

These teams have between 17 and 22 games left in the regular season, so we’re entering the home stretch, and there will be a key matchup worth watching nearly every day. The next two nights, for instance, will pit the Timberwolves vs. the Jazz and the Thunder vs. the Trail Blazers.

What’s your take on the Western Conference playoff race? Which two teams will miss the postseason? Which two teams will gain home-court advantage by nabbing the third and fourth seeds? Which first-round matchups would you most like to see?

Jump into the comment section below to weigh in with your thoughts!

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LaMarcus Aldridge Day-To-Day With Ankle Injury

March 1st, 2018 at 6:03pm CST by Luke Adams
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LaMarcus Aldridge Exits Game With Ankle Injury

February 28th, 2018 at 10:29pm CST by clarkcrum

LaMarcus Aldridge could potentially undergo an MRI tomorrow for a right ankle injury that he suffered in the first quarter of the Spurs’ 121-116 loss to the Pelicans tonight, according to a tweet from Jabari Young of the San Antonio Express-News. Aldridge attempted to return to the game after sustaining the injury but did not play in the second half.

There’s no word as to the severity of the injury, and the MRI could simply be precautionary, but for an already short-handed team missing superstar Kawhi Leonard and in the midst of a tight playoff race, the latest setback could prove devastating.

With 7:17 remaining in the first quarter, Aldridge landed awkwardly after attempting to block a shot attempt by Rajon Rondo. He fell to the floor but was able to stay in the game until the 3:02 mark, when he headed to the locker room. Aldridge returned in the second quarter for little over four minutes of game time before calling it quits for the night.

Aldridge, 32, was averaging 22.8 PPG and 8.3 RPG in 56 games before tonight’s contest and was named to his sixth All-Star team earlier this season.

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Mills Replaces Green As Starter

February 28th, 2018 at 9:37pm CST by clarkcrum

The Grizzlies are on a 10-game losing streak and Marc Gasol is admittedly highly frustrated, he tells Ronald Tillery of The Commercial Appeal. As he sees it, the NBA is about winning, not about getting more repetitions for younger players or player development, which, in Gasol’s view, should be left to the G League. In a piece for Yahoo Sports, Chris Mannix adds that head coach J.B. Bickerstaff acknowledges the frustration that Gasol is experiencing.

“A guy as competitive as he is, and a guy who every day matters to him, whether it’s practice, drill work, three-on-three, he’s trying to win… A guy who is so unselfish, he doesn’t care how many points he scores. The only thing that matters to him are wins and losses. I think we all understand and appreciate guys who are that way. There’s no doubt about it, it’s frustrating for him.”

Despite the frustration, Gasol is trying to improve different areas of his game, says Bickerstaff.

“He’s working on different parts of his game. The way teams are playing, you don’t see a ton of post-up opportunities any more, (so) he’s working on his face-up game, he’s working on a different array of shots, in the paint, how he gets to those spots, things like that. Playing from the perimeter, being able to attack off the catch versus other big guys. Those things we’ve seen him be able to implement. He’s been able to implement them quick. As soon as he puts his mind to it, he can add it that night.”

There’s more news out of the Southwest Division:

  • The Rockets have the best record in the NBA and are currently one game ahead of second-place Golden State in the loss column. FiveThirtyEight gives them the best odds (40%) of winning the NBA title. And as MVP-favorite James Harden sees it, “this is (Houston’s) year”, reports Jeff Zillgitt of USA Today.
  • Spurs guard Patty Mills has replaced incumbent Danny Green in the starting lineup for now, reports Jeff McDonald of the San Antonio Express-News. As is typical for head coach Gregg Popovich, he wouldn’t elaborate on the change, but Mills appears to give the Spurs a bit more offensive firepower in the first unit, while Green improves the second-unit’s defensive presence.
  • Mavericks big man Dwight Powell is making a case to be the team’s primary center moving forward, opines Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News. Averaging 14.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per contest over the last seven games, Powell excels at playing hard. “(T)he thing I like about Powell is you’re going to get unconditional, boundless energy and the highest of high-care factors when it comes to the team,” said head coach Rick Carlisle.
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