The threadbare Nets have been with out eight gamers in Monday’s 113-99 loss to Indiana, together with a decimated backcourt sans level guards D’Angelo Russell and Ben Simmons.
Simmons had been listed with left calf soreness and decrease again damage administration, although Nets coach Jordi Fernandez recommended it was extra the calf than the again.
“D’Angelo had a [right] shin contusion, so we’ll keep him out for [a game], and then we’ll see how he feels,” Fernandez stated. “After which with Ben, it’s simply administration together with his calf. So identical factor, attempting to need him to really feel higher and see what number of days it takes.
“But again, we’re not going to rush him if they’re not 100 percent at play and if it could turn into something worse. For sure, the No. 1 thing for us is their health, their bodies. And we’ll have 10 other bodies to go out there and fight.”
There have been reviews linking injured Cam Johnson in commerce talks with each the Pacers and Warriors, doubtlessly in a three-way deal. However a supply advised The Publish that reviews of something brewing are “all noise.”
The NBA’s wage assure date is Jan. 10. To keep away from paying a participant on a non-guaranteed contract his full wage groups need to waive the participant on or earlier than Tuesday. There are 23 gamers in that boat, together with Jalen Wilson and Keon Johnson. However with each within the beginning lineup, that’s not occurring.
Johnson began his 14th straight sport.
“Great effort obviously starting in defense with his ball pressure,” Fernandez stated. “He’s completed an excellent job. That’s one among his superpowers. However then, additionally a man that has purchased into catch-and-shoot and taking good pictures and being able to play second-side pick-and-roll. He’s rising. I’ve talked about it earlier than. Don’t neglect he’s 22 years previous, regardless that it looks like he’s been within the NBA for some time.
“But his growth is important for us. Player development is something that we really look week by week or day by day. And he’s a guy that the whole summer, he had an amazing summer. He was here the whole summer, worked, played Summer League. He was great. And you can tell right now his progression. So, you know, we’re happy to see it and we want to see more.”
Johnson had averaged 15.3 factors in his previous seven video games coming into Monday.
Whereas he and Wilson presumably are secure, there could possibly be gamers lower free who may curiosity the Nets.
Bojan Bogdanovicć (left foot damage restoration), Johnson (proper ankle sprain), Maxwell Lewis (left tibia fracture), De’Anthony Melton (left knee ACL tear), Cam Thomas (left hamstring pressure) and Trendon Watford (left hamstring pressure) have been all out. Dariq Whitehead was known as up from G-League project.
