Day: December 4, 2024

Zion Williamson will be reevaluated for his left hamstring strain in another two weeks. The New Orleans Pelicans have been bracing for the possibility Williamson’s absence extends beyond the initial timeline of four to six weeks from November 11th.

In six games this season, Williamson is averaging 22.7 points, 8.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists in 31.1 minutes. Williamson has a PER of 20.1.

Williamson has played in less than 50 percent of his possible games since being drafted by the Pelicans in 2019.

Kevin Durant will be out at least one week with a left ankle sprain. Durant suffered the injury while landing on Julian Champagnie’s foot in the second quarter of the Phoenix Suns’ win over the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.

Durant will be reevaluated in one week. Durant was previously out this season with a left calf strain.

In 13 games this season, Durant is averaging 25.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists in 35.7 minutes.

The Houston Rockets are arguably the NBA’s best positioned team to make a trade for a superstar because of both their future draft picks and their talented young core. Rafael Stone and the Rockets can trade up to four outright first round picks and four swaps.

“I just spent some time around the Rockets and I was told by more than one person, very firmly, very adamantly, they will not change the core of that team this season,” said Tim MacMahon on Wednesday’s Hoop Collective podcast. “Maybe they make a fringe rotation type of deal. But they are going to play the season out with the core of that team is what they are saying right now.”

Because Jalen Green and Alperen Sengun signed contract extensions before the start of the season, they are both functionally difficult to trade during the current season. While Tari Eason and Amen Thompson are not starters, the Rockets have been adamant in their messaging that both players are untouchable.

“Actions over words,” added MacMahon. “The action of signing him to that deal was also an indication that this was not a season they planned to make a massive trade.

“Now, we’ve talked about them trying to fast forward to phase three over the summer. If they could have gotten their hands on Donovan Mitchell, they would have absolutely pounced on that. He wasn’t available.

“If and when they cash some of these chips in to make a deal, one, I would be shocked if Thompson is traded. Eason is going to be awfully hard to get.”

The Rockets are one of the league’s best defensive teams, but they lack a true offensive star.

“If and when they cash these major chips in, they are going to be very selective of that. In other words, it has to be an age appropriate star. They realize to vault into real championship contenders, they have to have a guy either emerge or acquire a legitimate offensive engine. An outstanding offensive engine. They need to become a good offensive team, not a great because they are a great defensive team.

“They are not ruling out that Jalen Green could become that. I think they have some evidence that it’s possible from last season. They are not ruling out that Sengun could continue developing.”