Storyline: Shake Milton Injury
6 rumors in this storyline
More Rumors in this Storyline
Derek Bodner: Shake Milton says he’ll be a full go for training camp and can play 5-on-5, but will have his workload limited and monitored.
Rookie guard Shake Milton suffered a spondylolysis (stress fracture) in his back during this year’s pre-draft process. He is proceeding with a rehabilitation program and will not participate in NBA Summer League in Las Vegas. Milton will be re-evaluated in approximately three weeks.
February 18, 2019 | 6:00 am EST Update
Beal recruiting for Wizards during All-Star Weekend
The Wizards’ sole All-Star representative is looking three-and-a-half months ahead to the start of free agency — and maybe even beyond that. Beal joked to The Athletic on Friday that he may have to spend the weekend tampering with the other 25 All-Stars in Charlotte. Then again, maybe he wasn’t joking too much. The two-way recruiting has already begun, as he admitted following Sunday’s game. “It was really crazy,” Beal said. “A lot of guys were coming to talk to me and asking me how I feel. The recruiting process is really going all right. It’s going all right. I’m trying. This is new for me. So, I’m definitely getting some ears and seeing where guys’ minds are at.”
Still, the league does not enforce player-on-player recruiting as if it were tampering. So, in this case, Beal can “tamper” away. And opponents can return the favor. “Guys were, ‘So, what y’all doing in D.C.? How is D.C.?’ Or I’m asking, ‘What’s your situation? What you thinking about? How you feeling? Any changes need to be made?’” he said.
So, uhhh, who was it? “I can’t name no names. I’m not gonna name no names. I ain’t gonna name no names. You’re not gonna have me out here for tampering. I ain’t gonna throw no names out. I’m keeping them in my piggy bank, my back pocket right here,” Beal said. “But in July, hopefully we can do something.” Beal, who has two seasons remaining on his contract with the Wizards and says he wants to stick around, is a known shooter, but this is a halfcourt heave. Props to him for at least being the guy who chucks before the end-of-quarter buzzer sounds.
Scott Kushner: AD said the weekend really wasn’t any different for him than typical All-Star Games despite the scrutiny surrounding his trade request. “Great to be around family and the other All Stars” He also doesn’t think it will be an issue returning to New Orleans to finish the season.
Scott Kushner: I just spoke to AD. He said the plan was to just play a limited amount so he wouldn’t “mess the shoulder up” any further. But he said of the shoulder, “it’s fine”. He also said he expects to play when the Pelicans’ schedule resumes next week and will play his normal workload.
Matt Velazquez: Khris Middleton was asked about his future postgame: “I’ll think about the summertime in the summertime. We have a lot more work to do, hopefully. The second half of the season is going to be tough. We’ve been playing great basketball, so that’s the only thing I’m worried about.”
James said he’s healthy and focused on the stretch run. “I feel great,” James said. “Looking forward to the second half of the season. Looking forward to seeing what we can do to get back in this playoff race. That’s my only mindset. That’s the only thing that’s going to happen in my mental space for these next two months, pretty much on how I can get this team playing the type of level of basketball we were playing before my injury.”
