NBA Thread

[J-Reb]

Yeah, they can buy him out, but at this point the price is probably steep. I'd guess north of 20 million.

They had a doctor over on SportsCenter the other day - there is a possibility this is a quick fix and he'll only miss 4-6 weeks.

[GM Franchise]

They had a doctor over on SportsCenter the other day - there is a possibility this is a quick fix and he'll only miss 4-6 weeks.

That's a good thing.

[GM Franchise]

Russell Westbrook has face surgery

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12399593/russell-westbrook-oklahoma-city-thunder-surgery-repair-fracture-face

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook underwent a successful procedure to address a fracture in the zygomatic arch bone of his right cheek on Saturday, the team announced.

He has been ruled out for Sunday's game at the Los Angeles Lakers and will be re-evaluated this week to determine when he can return to play.

Westbrook suffered the injury with 2.5 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday when teammate Andre Roberson inadvertently kneed him in the face, leaving a visible dent in the side of his face.

Westbrook left the game without speaking to reporters to carry out further evaluation at a local medical facility.

Westbrook had his third consecutive triple-double against the Blazers, scoring 40 points with 13 rebounds and 11 assists. He had a historic month of February, averaging 31.2 points, 9.1 rebounds and 10.3 assists, something that has only ever been done by Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson.

Kevin Durant is set to be re-evaluated for a minor procedure he underwent last Sunday and could return as soon as this week. In seven games without Durant in February, Westbrook averaged a triple-double -- 31.2 points, 10.0 rebounds and 11.3 assists.

Westbrook, 26, is averaging 26.5 points, 6.8 rebounds and 8.1 assists in 45 games this season. He missed 14 games in November because of a fracture in his right hand.

Newly-acquired D.J. Augustin will start in place of Westbrook Sunday against the Lakers.

[GM Franchise]

Last night James Harden kicked Lebron in the groin and Lebron got into it with Patrick Beverley. Tonight there was a wrestling match during the Suns/Heat game that saw both Hassan Whiteside and Alex Len get ejected.

[Gravedigger]

Kyrie Irving is pretty good.....

[GM Franchise]

Kyrie and Lebron are going to be a force in the playoffs this season.

[Justin]

Kyrie and Lebron are going to be a force in the playoffs this season.

Their depth will keep them from winning.

[J-Reb]

With the addition of JR Smith, Shumpert and Mozgov - they are as deep as any team in the league.

[Justin]

Smith is an offensive yo-yo and you never know which one you will get. Shipment is more defense than anything. Mozgov, if Im not mistaken, starts. Plus outside of them they dont have much else. Not the kind of depth I want if im going into a series with the Hawks.

[GM Franchise]

With the addition of JR Smith, Shumpert and Mozgov - they are as deep as any team in the league.

I agree with this.

[Gravedigger]

Depth is overrated in the NBA playoffs. Stars will be going 40+ minutes a night, so you only need a few solid minutes from bench guys...

Of anyone in the league, I'll bet on LeBron come playoff time.

[Justin]

Depth is overrated in the NBA playoffs. Stars will be going 40+ minutes a night, so you only need a few solid minutes from bench guys...

Of anyone in the league, I'll bet on LeBron come playoff time.

Ask the Heat how that worked out last season.

[GM Franchise]

Watch out for the Spurs and Pelicans. If they get into the playoffs I think they can make some noise.

[GM Franchise]

Kevin Durant removed from activities

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12521706/kevin-durant-oklahoma-city-thunder-removed-basketball-activities

Kevin Durant has been "removed from basketball activities" and could be shut down for the season, Oklahoma City Thunder general manager Sam Presti announced Friday.

"He's not making the progress we'd hoped or expected," Presti said.

When asked whether Durant was being shut down for the season, Presti said, "Essentially, that's the direction we're headed right now."

Durant was held out of practice Thursday as he was "experiencing a little bit of soreness," Thunder coach Scott Brooks said Thursday.

Durant underwent surgery Feb. 23 to attempt to alleviate soreness and discomfort in his right foot that was being caused by a screw inserted in October during a procedure to repair a Jones fracture. After the second procedure, Durant was re-evaluated after a week, then re-evaluated again after another week, at which point Brooks updated the player's timetable to a "week or two."

"The goal is to get him back on the court healthy, whenever that is," Presti said Friday.

Durant had intensified his on-court workouts in the past couple of weeks, returning Saturday to participate in parts of practice, including some 3-on-3. But the soreness that plagued him before the All-Star break and pushed him toward the second surgery has not been resolved yet.

Up until Thursday, Durant has been said to be progressing well and on the right track.

"Unless he's able to be back on the floor without soreness, he won't be back on the floor," Presti said.

The reigning league MVP, Durant is averaging 25.4 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.1 assists in 27 games this season.

Reacting to the news, Westgate SuperBook on Friday moved the Thunder's odds to win the NBA title from 8-1 to 20-1. On Monday, Oklahoma City, along with San Antonio, had the second-best odds in the West, behind only Golden State.

Oklahoma City beat Eastern Conference-leading Atlanta on Friday night, 123-115, to move to 39-30.

[GM Franchise]

Paul George could play within week

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/12525665/paul-george-indiana-pacers-targeting-return-week-sources-say

CLEVELAND -- The Indiana Pacers are targeting the next week for Paul George's season debut, multiple sources told ESPN.com.

The team was considering bringing back George as early as Saturday's home game against the Nets, but after the Pacers fell to the Cavs 95-92 on Friday night, coach Frank Vogel said George would not face Brooklyn.

A Pacers official said the team plans to update George's status Monday.

The Pacers repeatedly have refrained from publicly putting a timetable on George as he's progressed in his long recovery from a broken leg suffered in a Team USA intrasquad scrimmage in August.

George has been practicing for more than three weeks but still has a way to go to fully recover. During a scrimmage Thursday that was open to the media, George took part in full contact work but appeared to favor his leg at times while running.

Earlier this week, the Indianapolis Star quoted an unnamed Pacers teammate as saying George was "not even close to 100 percent." George has said if he does return this season, it would be with caution and to "get his feet wet" again, as he envisioned a full recovery by the start of next season.

After both team president Larry Bird and George expressed optimism that George would return this season, George pulled back on that sentiment recently, questioning whether his return might disrupt the team's rhythm.

But after going on a seven-game win streak that made George reconsider his plans, the Pacers entered Friday's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on a three-game losing streak. They have fallen into a tie for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference heading into the weekend.

The Pacers also are in a crucial point in their schedule. They are in a stretch where the play seven of eight games against teams currently in playoff position. The only minor break in that stretch is on Saturday against the Nets, who are chasing the Pacers for the final playoff spot in the East.