Joel Embiid might play in a preseason game

The Joel Embiid health watch continues. We look forward to the day when he’s just fully healthy so we only have to talk about his on-court production, but for now, the quest for 100 percent health remains part of the process. Here’s NBC Sports reporting:

Joel Embiid might play in a preseason game

Joel Embiid checked off a key criterion in his return to play by participating in full-court 5-on-5 work on Thursday.

This was the first time Embiid has played basketball to this extent since undergoing season-ending left knee surgery in March. He didn’t experience soreness in the scrimmage…

Embiid thinks he has a “pretty good” chance to play in a preseason game next week. He will not play on Friday against the Celtics.

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Nicolas Batum out with serious elbow injury

Nic Batum out with elbow injury

Charlotte Hornets guard/forward Nicolas Batum underwent a Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) exam today which revealed a tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow. The injury occurred with 11:26 remaining in the first quarter of Charlotte’s preseason road contest against the Detroit Pistons last night. Treatment options are still being evaluated, but Batum is expected to miss a minimum of six to eight weeks.

According to the Charlotte Observer, “Batum signed a five-year, $120 million contract with the Hornets in July 2016. He is scheduled to make nearly $21 million this season. He averaged 15.1 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists last season, but shot poorly (.403 from the field and .333 from 3-point range).”

The 6-8 veteran swingman from France has averaged new career highs in points in each of his first two seasons in Charlotte. During the 2016-17 season, Batum totaled 1,164 points, 481 rebounds and 455 assists, becoming the first Charlotte player to score over 1,000 points, grab 450 rebounds and hand out over 450 assists in a single season. After a seven-year stint with Portland, Batum has averaged 15.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 34.5 minutes per game over the course of 144 games the last two seasons with the Hornets.

More from the Observer: “With Batum out, Hornets coach Steve Clifford told the Observer late Thursday afternoon he plans to turn to Jeremy Lamb as a starter.”

Bucks sign Xavier Munford

The Milwaukee Bucks have signed free agent guard Xavier Munford.

Munford, 25, was a member of the 2017 USA AmeriCup Team that finished 5-0 and won the gold medal in Argentina. He averaged 10.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.

Last season he split time between the Greensboro Swarm of the NBA G League and FC Barcelona Lassa. He played in 14 games for the Memphis Grizzlies during the 2015-16 season and averaged 5.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 1.6 assists.

A native of Hillside, N.J., Munford concluded his collegiate career at the University of Rhode Island in 2014 where he became the fastest player in school history to reach the 1,000 point mark.

Iman Shumpert injury update

Iman Shumpert injury update

Cavaliers guard Iman Shumpert experienced a left foot injury during the first quarter of last night’s game in Cleveland at The Q vs. the Atlanta Hawks. He left the game and did not return to play. Additional examination and imaging this morning at Cleveland Clinic Sports Health by Cavaliers team physicians Dr. James Rosneck and Dr. Richard Parker confirmed a left foot sprain. Shumpert will undergo treatment and is currently projected to return to play in approximately seven to 10 days.

Bucks waive James Young

The Milwaukee Bucks have requested waivers on James Young.

Young, 22, originally signed with Milwaukee on Sept. 6. He did not appear in either of the Bucks two preseason games.

This move is not a surprise. The vast majority of players signed to training camp won’t make their team’s regular season roster, and that was the case here.

Adreian Payne suffers broken hand

Adreian Payne suffers broken hand

During today’s practice, Orlando Magic forward Adreian Payne suffered a fractured fourth metacarpal in his left hand, President of Basketball Operations Jeff Weltman announced. His return to play will depend on how the injury heals and how he responds to treatment.

Payne (6’10”, 237, 2/19/91) signed a two-way contract with Orlando on August 21. He did not play in the Magic’s preseason opener on October 2 at Memphis.

Payne appeared in 18 games last season with Minnesota, averaging 3.5 ppg. and 1.8 rpg. in 7.5 minpg. He also spent time with the Erie BayHawks of the NBA G League. Originally selected in the first round (15th overall) of the 2014 NBA Draft by Atlanta, Payne has played in 102 career NBA regular season games (24 starts) with Atlanta and Minnesota, averaging 4.0 ppg. and 3.0 rpg. in 13.3 minpg. He has also spent time with Fort Wayne, Austin and Erie of the NBA G League.

Per NBA rules, teams are permitted to sign two players to two-way contracts in addition to the 15-man regular-season roster. A two-way player for Orlando will provide services to the team’s G League affiliate – the Lakeland Magic – but can spend up to 45 days with Orlando, not including any time prior to the start of Lakeland’s training camp and at the conclusion of their season.

Knicks waive Jamel Artis

The Knicks have waived forward Jamel Artis.

Artis, 6-7, 215-pounds, appeared in one preseason game, scoring five points over 11 minutes. He was signed as an undrafted rookie free agent on Aug. 18, following a four-year collegiate career at the University of Pittsburgh.

He wasn’t expected to make the team, so this is not a surprise.

The roster stands at 19 players.

Some BIG3 news for 2018 summer season

The BIG3 3-on-3 summer league has announced that they have reached two-year agreements with 18 players and coaches from the inaugural season. The league tendered offers to all of its first year Player Captains, Co-captains and Coaches, giving them the opportunity to re-sign before engaging new talent – a process which will get underway shortly.

Among the roster of returning players and coaches are 2017 BIG3 MVP Rashard Lewis, 2017 BIG3 Champions Trilogy’s Kenyon Martin, Al Harrington and coach Rick Mahorn, Corey Maggette, Chauncey Billups, Clyde Drexler, Gary Payton, Brian Scalabrine, Stephen Jackson, DerMarr Johnson, Ricky Davis, Josh Childress, Cuttino Mobley, Jerome “Junk Yard Dog” Williams, Bonzi Wells, George “The Iceman” Gervin, and Rick Barry.

Jayson Tatum gets first preseason experience

Even though he’s surrounded by talented teammates who will do the vast majority of the heavy lifting, many eyes will be on Celtics rookie Jayson Tatum this season. Here’s the Boston Herald reporting on his first taste of NBA preseason:

Jayson Tatum is happy to have his first preseason game in the rearview mirror. His performance in the 94-82 win against Charlotte was very much a rookie’s exercise — from the 0-for-4 first-half shooting to the greatly improved work as the evening went along.

“It felt good,” Tatum said after the Celtics’ workout yesterday. “I was anxious and excited and nervous at first, but as the game progressed, I felt a lot better.

“I think it was mostly butterflies my first game. I was definitely nervous and excited when I first got out there.”

The hesitation was evident as he pulled up for an open 3-pointer and gave the ball a bit of a guided push, taking his first shot on a break about a minute and a half after he entered in the opening quarter.

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Australian bball teams set to play exhibitions vs NBA squads

NBA preseason games against non-NBA opponents are always interesting, in that for the NBA team the event is a mere warmup in preparation for the regular season, while for the non-NBA team it’s a chance to win respect, gain some fame, impress their home fans, and treat the game as an important contest. Here’s the Deseret News reporting:

The Sydney Kings’ team website is billing its exhibition game against the Utah Jazz Monday night at Vivint Arena as the “Match Up to end all Match Ups.”

While that’s probably overselling a contest that will take place in early October, the occasion is a historic one, as it marks the first time a team from Australia’s National Basketball League will have taken on an NBA squad.

The game is the opening act of a trio of contests between the NBA and NBL over the next two weeks that will also see Melbourne United play the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Brisbane Bullets face the Phoenix Suns.

Kings head coach Andrew Gaze, a legend in Australian basketball who played in five Olympic games and had NBA stints with the old Washington Bullets and the San Antonio Spurs, is confident these contests will have a big impact on hoops in his country, regardless of what the scoreboard may say when the final buzzers sound.

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