March 2012 Basketball Wiretap

Chris Kaman Exits Practice With Back Sprain

Sep 30, 2012 12:06 PM

Chris Kaman suffered a back sprain during the Dallas Mavericks' first preseason practice.

Kaman has missed 69 games over the past two seasons.

“It was a really good practice,” coach Rick Carlisle said. “We had one casualty. Kaman went out with a sprained lower back. It’s not considered serious. So we’ll see how he’s doing for tonight and tomorrow and go from there. It’s not serious, but it was enough to keep him out of about half of what we did [in the morning].”

Elton Brand replaced Kaman at center in drills.

“I don’t know who’s going to start at center,” Carlisle said. “On paper, it looks like Kaman will be the starter, but we got a long way to go before we figure out what’s best for the team. Everything’s on the table.”

Eddie Sefko/Dallas Morning News

Tags: Chris Kaman, Dallas Mavericks, NBA, NBA Injury

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Paul, Billups Participate In Practice, Sit Out Scrimmage

Sep 30, 2012 11:55 AM

Chris Paul and Chauncey Billups are unable to scrimmage as they recover from injuries, but they still ran through a few offensive sets with the first team of the Los Angeles Clippers.

"It was real nice to see Chauncey out there," Paul said. "When Coach called the first team out so we could go over things, me and Chauncey went out there. And then when they started scrimmaging, me and Chauncey came to the side and shot some."

Paul is expected to be fully available to return sooner than Billups.

"Me and Chauncey had a chance to watch a lot. I found myself watching over there on the sideline and I was actually excited," Paul said. "I hate to watch basketball. Obviously I love to play. But it was kind of cool because I'm sitting there and I'm watching Jamal Crawford, Lamar Odom — all these great players out there on the court."

Broderick Turner/Los Angeles Times

Tags: Los Angeles Clippers, NBA, NBA Injury

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Wade Slow To Recover From Knee Surgery

Sep 30, 2012 11:05 AM

Dwyane Wade has been slow to recover from knee surgery in early July.

Projected recovery time was four to six weeks, with the Saturday start of training camp marking 11 ½ weeks of rehabilitation.

Wade still isn’t 100 percent and will likely miss the team’s October preseason games.

“I understand that it’s a process and I’m going to take that process and be … I’ve been here before, guys, so I know what to do. I’ll be all right,” Wade said. “I went all the way around the block just to go next door.”

The Heat declined to put a timeline on Wade’s return to full strength.

“I’m just strictly looking at him big picture,” Erik Spoelstra said. “I don’t have a specific plan for him in training camp of how many days. We’re going to read and react to it.”

Joseph Goodman/Miami Herald

Tags: Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat, NBA, NBA Misc Rumor, NBA Injury

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Blake Griffin Completely Healthy Following Surgery

Sep 29, 2012 11:40 AM

Blake Griffin said he's 100% healthy after surgery in July for torn cartilage in his left knee and that he has no restrictions.

Griffin injured his knee during training for the Olympics.

Griffin missed the entire 09-10 season due to injury.

Broderick Turner/Los Angeles Times

Tags: Blake Griffin, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA, NBA Injury

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Dwight Howard Targets Opening Night For Return From Back Surgery

Sep 29, 2012 11:20 AM

Dwight Howard is targeting the Los Angeles Lakers' regular season opener as his return from back surgery, according to sources.

Sources say Howard has made progress in recent weeks to increase the possibility.

Howard claims that his back is now 85 percent returned strength.

The Lakers have advised Howard to maintain a cautious approach as he has yet to engage in five-on-five situations.

Adrian Wojnarowski/Yahoo! Sports

Tags: Dwight Howard, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, NBA Injury

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John Wall Out Eight Weeks With Stress Injury To Left Patella

Sep 28, 2012 1:11 PM

John Wall will miss approximately eight weeks after being diagnosed with the early stages of a stress injury to his left patella. No surgery will be necessary, and his rehab will begin immediately.    

“My teammates and I are all excited to build on the improvement we made at the end of last season, and I know they will continue to make great progress while I get through this setback,” said Wall. “I will work extremely hard to make sure I get back as soon as possible so I can re-join them and help our team continue to improve." 

Wall was examined yesterday in New York by orthopedic specialist Dr. David Altchek after experiencing discomfort in his left knee and underwent an MRI that revealed the early stages of a non-traumatic stress injury.  

"We're all disappointed for John after how hard he worked this summer and how excited he was to begin training camp, but we feel fortunate that we caught the injury early and that he will be able to return with the vast majority of the season still in front of us," said Grunfeld.  "In the meantime, we're confident that the versatility and depth of our team will help us move forward and continue the positive momentum that we've seen over the past several months."

RealGM Staff Report

Tags: John Wall, Washington Wizards, NBA, NBA Injury

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Kendrick Perkins Could Miss Entire Preseason

Sep 27, 2012 12:37 PM

Kendrick Perkins could miss all of training camp and perhaps each of the Thunder's seven preseason games while recovering from wrist surgery.

But Sam Presti said that the Thunder are hoping to have Perkins in the lineup for the season opener on November 1st.

“What we're trying to do is have him ready for the first game, or the beginning of the regular season,” Presti said at his annual preseason news conference. “His conditioning, his fitness and his levels, he's done a fantastic job. His wrist is a thing that we have to be very cautious with and we will be.”

Perkins underwent a surgical procedure on July 19 to repair a torn ligament in his left wrist.

Darnell Mayberry/Oklahoman

Tags: Kendrick Perkins, Oklahoma City Thunder, NBA, NBA Injury

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Darrell Arthur Has Non-Displaced Leg Fracture, Likely To Miss 4-6 Weeks

Sep 26, 2012 6:48 PM

Darrell Arthur has suffered a non-displaced fracture of his leg.

Arthur missed the entire 11-12 NBA season.

The Grizzlies report that Arthur could return in four to six weeks.

Ben Golliver/CBS Sports

Tags: Darrell Arthur, Memphis Grizzlies, NBA, NBA Injury

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Granger's Knee Issue Will Make Pacers Start Him Slowly In Camp

Sep 26, 2012 10:27 AM

Danny Granger will be limited at the start of training camp due to an issue with his left knee that became an issue while training this summer in Los Angeles.

Granger received an injection in the knee.

The Pacers don't believe it is a major issue, but they will be careful with Granger's workload to begin the preseason.

Mike Wells/Indianapolis Star

Tags: Danny Granger, Indiana Pacers, NBA, NBA Injury

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Nene Could Miss Start Of Camp

Sep 25, 2012 6:18 PM

Nene could miss the start of Washington Wizards' training camp as he recovers from plantar fasciitis.

“He hasn’t had much time to rest this summer because of the commitment he had to his national team,” Ernie Grunfeld said of Nene. “So we’re going to be very, very cautious. We’re going to take it very slow with him and make sure he’s 100 percent when we put him out there full time.”

Nene was acquired by the Wizards in a deadline deal with the Nuggets.

“We expect him to be ready for the regular season, for sure,” Grunfeld said. “But we will be very cautious with him.”

Gene Wang/Washington Post

Tags: Maybyner Nene, Washington Wizards, NBA, NBA Injury

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Kyrie Irving Scrimmages For First Time Since Hand Injury

Marc J. Spears/Yahoo! Sports

Steve Blake Punctures Left Foot Stepping On Parking Lot Spike Strip

RealGM Staff Report

Valanciunas Suffers Foot Injury

Ryan Wolstat/Toronto Sun

Chris Paul Still Few Weeks Away From Return

Eric Patten/Clippers.com

Magic To Be Without Harrington, Smith, Harkless For Start Of Camp

Brian Schmitz/Orlando Sentinel

Channing Frye Out Indefinitely With Enlarged Heart

Paul Coro/Arizona Republic (via Twitter)

Stephen Curry Cleared To Play Pickup

RealGM Staff Report

Tony Allen Expects To Be Ready By Season Opener, Unconcerned About Contract

Ronald Tillery/Memphis Commercial Appeal

Mike Miller Expects To Be Ready For Beginning Of Season

Ira Winderman/South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Dwight Howard Won't Be Ready For Start Of Preseason Games

Ben Bolch/Los Angeles Times

Rose Now Jumping On Surgically Repaired Knee

K.C. Johnson/Chicago Tribune

Brandon Roy Wants To Make Immediate Impact With Timberwolves

Ray Richardson/Pioneer Press

Bogut Expected To Be Ready For Opening Night

Sean Deveney/Sporting News

Robbie Hummel To Undergo Surgery On Meniscus

Jerry Zgoda/Star Tribune

Elliot Williams To Undergo Surgery On Left Achilles

RealGM Staff Report

Blake Griffin Returns To Court After Knee Injury

Guerin Emig/Tulsa World

Rubio Targets December Return From Torn ACL

Joan Niesen/FOXSportsNorth

Ronnie Brewer Undergoes Knee Surgery, Will Be Out Six Weeks

Howard Beck/New York Times