The start of NBA training camps is right around the corner now and with the countdown to the 2015-16 NBA season on, there are still a lot of question marks that certain teams still have to address. The Philadelphia 76ers signed another piece this week while the Dallas Mavericks and Minnesota Timberwolves are still waiting for confirmation on the status of key players. Here is a look at some of the latest important news and notes from around the NBA.
Parsons Still Not Ready
The Mavericks have high expectations for forward Chandler Parsons this season after his initial season in Dallas was basically a wash. While he has talked about putting the ball on the floor and targeting a return on opening night (following knee surgery), there have been rumblings about how he has not actually started running yet. Parsons had the surgery last April and has had the whole summer to recover but there is no guarantee that he can get back to full strength in time for the start of the season.
If he does, there will still be question marks about whether or not the knee will hold up early on. Dallas opens its season against the Phoenix Suns on October 28th. After losing out on Monta Ellis, Tyson Chandler and DeAndre Jordan, they don’t want to start the season even more shorthanded and without the services of Parsons.
McCollum Could Start In Portland
Portland is another playoff team from last year that will be in tough to get back to the postseason after dealing with a mass exodus in terms of personnel. LaMarcus Aldridge, Wesley Matrhews, Robin Lopez and Nicolas Batum have all moved on.
The major changes has opened up some starting jobs with Mason Plumlee and Ed Davis the favorites to start at center and power forward, respectively, but the interesting position battle could come down at the shooting guard position where third-year guard C.J. McCollum could start ahead of veteran Gerald Henderson. McCollum was the 10th overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.
He’s had a fairly quiet first two seasons in the NBA but came on strong in the playoffs when he saw a huge bump in minutes. He played 33.2 minutes while averaging 17 points per game with 4.0 rebounds, 2.2 threes and 1.2 steals. The Trail Blazers are hoping he carries that momentum over into 2015-16.
76ers Sign Marshall
The 76ers are fully committed to their rebuild as they continue to stockpile top picks and develop young talent, but it was still somewhat of a surprise when they reached out to point guard Kendall Marshall and signed him to a four-year deal. Marshall was a first-round pick of the Phoenix Suns in the 2012 NBA Draft who spent last year as a backup for the Milwaukee Bucks before he suffered a torn ACL in February.
Marshall posted career-high’s when he averaged 8.0 points, 8.8 assists and 2.9 rebounds in 29.0 minutes per game for the Los Angeles Lakers but few teams were interested in his services this offseason. The 76ers have had commitment-phobia with a lot of players but that didn’t stop them from giving Marshall a four-year deal. The good news is only one year is guaranteed but this was a bizarre move.
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Pekovic Waiting To Be Cleared
Minnesota has emerged as a potential deep sleeper pick that some experts believe can challenge for a playoff spot in the Western Conference and while not everybody is buying it, the reality is that they have the potential to be very good if healthy. One player that needs to get healthy to be a part of any run is center Nikola Pekovic.
He is dealing with an ankle injury and hasn’t been cleared to practice. The Timberwolves are suddenly very deep when it comes to big men with rookie first-overall pick Karl-Anthony Towns, Gorgui Dieng, Kevin Garnett, Adreian Payne, Anthony Bennett and Pekovic all capable of playing the four or five spot. Still, Pekovic is the man who has given them the most in the frontcourt in recent seasons and they need him back healthy.
