Happily, at long last for the Lakers, they’re warming up, if not red hot. It may be because Magic, still a charismatic figure, is in charge, or that Kupchak did a good job before being fired so that they finally have the right young players, even if none of them is Joel Embiid or Karl-Anthony Towns. Brandon Ingram and Kyle Kuzma are showing signs of being special, as has Lonzo Ball in an earlier stage of development. Julius Randle, thought to be outward bound for cap room, has clawed his way up the pecking order. A year ago if you asked how many of their players had shown they were special as opposed to merely promising, the answer would have been none. Magic still dreams like a Laker, targeting the top free agents: Bron, Paul George and, at least until last week’s injury, DeMarcus Cousins.
Happily, at long last for the Lakers, they’re warming…
March 28, 2023 | 2:47 pm EDT Update
Kevin Durant expected to return on Wednesday
Shams Charania: After missing 10 games with a sprained ankle, Phoenix Suns All-NBA star Kevin Durant will make his return Wednesday vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves barring setback, league sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium.
Chase Hughes: Monte Morris will return tonight for the Wizards, but Daniel Gafford is OUT, joining Beal and Kuzma.
Jonathan Feigen: Rockets/Vipers two-way player Darius Days named G League Player of the Month for March. Days averaged 25.7 points and 9.9 rebounds in 10 games for the Rio Grande Valley Vipers, who went 8-2 and reach the post-season with a six-game winning streak.
Former Windsor High standout guard Amir “Primo” Spears is transferring after one season at Georgetown, as well as putting his name in for the NBA draft.
Bobby Manning: Malcolm Brogdon, Jaylen Brown and Grant Williams visited the White House last night to discuss criminal justice reform, particularly raising the age of juveniles to 20. They met with about 15 JD officials. Scott Budnick helped set it up. Brogdon, Brown spoke today in DC about it
Bobby Manning: Brogdon said there were a lot of influential people at the table, including a brief appearance by former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, whose children attended his former Greater Atlanta Christian High School.
