Day: October 12, 2024

Charlotte Hornets center Mark Williams is out of a walking boot and progressing in his rehab from a strained tendon in his left foot. The Hornets said they will reevaluate Williams ahead of the start of the regular season.

Williams has played in only 62 total games in his first two NBA seasons. In his rookie season, the Hornets center missed several games due to spraining his left ankle, as well as a right thumb dislocation. Last season, Williams played in only 19 games. He was shut down in early-December due to a lower back injury.

Charlotte is counting on Williams to be their starting center this season. Having the 7-footer back should also help the Hornets improve defensively.

Fred VanVleet has one more guaranteed season under contract with the Houston Rockets. The team has a $44.9 million option on VanVleet for the 2025-26 season. If the veteran point guard has his way, he’ll be in Houston for a long time.

“I didn’t come here to be a rental,” VanVleet said. “I didn’t come here to be a free agent (again). I came here for a long-term home. I’ve loved my time here so far. I think I have a good understanding with management and the coaches about what the future looks like with this team. The business will always take care of itself. I don’t really get too concerned with that stuff. That stuff will work itself out. But I think my family and I will be in Texas. I came here for a home, and I think I found one.”

VanVleet is also relishing helping a young team grow into a playoff contender. He uses his experience as an undrafted player to mentor his younger teammates.

“Every last one of them, I have a great relationship with all the guys,” VanVleet said. “There’s a lot more of us than there is … stars in the league. The rest of the guys are trying to figure it out. I can always relate to those guys. I always tell the story I was a side-hoop guy. I was the guy shooting on the side with no coaches. I was rebounding with myself. I always keep that in mind.”

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball’s long road back to the court is nearly complete. Ball has been practicing with the Bulls throughout training camp. Now, the veteran point guard plans to play in two of Chicago’s final three preseason games over the next week.

Ball has not appeared in an NBA game since January 14, 2022. He’s had multiple surgeries since that point and has missed the entirety of the last two seasons.

Ball said his knee is “feeling good” and that he “feels better than he has in a long time”. The Bulls have been pleased with the way he’s played and how Ball’s knee had held up during training camp.