The preseason injury picture is already taking shape in Charlotte, Washington and Chicago, and the early damage is hitting some key names.
In Charlotte, Coby White will miss the entire preseason after straining his left calf during training camp, the team said. The Hornets did not offer any timetable beyond that.
It’s a frustrating start for White, who re-signed with Charlotte this summer on a three-year, $74 million deal. Calf issues also slowed him last season, including a left calf problem that was found during his physical after the Bulls traded him to Charlotte in February.
White is one of multiple Hornets on the shelf. Kon Knueppel and Grant Williams are also dealing with hamstring injuries and are expected to be reevaluated during the first week of the regular season. Charlotte would likely prefer to get its projected lineup together before November.
Washington got a more encouraging update from Alex Sarr, who took part in Wizards practice fully on Monday for the first time since having surgery on his right foot in June. His session included five-on-five contact.
“I was a full go today, [did] most of the drills at the position. Felt good,” Sarr said, via Greg Finberg of Wizards Central. “It’s been a long process.”
Coach Brian Keefe said Sarr is still in the ramp-up phase, so a full practice does not mean a game return is right around the corner. Even so, Sarr is looking forward to developing chemistry with newcomer Anthony Davis, giving Washington a towering look once both are available.
Chicago’s frontcourt plans hit a snag as well. Nic Claxton’s first preseason with the Bulls will be delayed after he tweaked his hamstring, and coach Tiago Splitter said he will be reevaluated in at least two weeks, via K.C. Johnson.
That timeline knocks Claxton out of Chicago’s five preseason games and leaves his status for the Oct. 21 opener against Toronto uncertain. The Bulls brought him in this summer after seven seasons with the Nets, intending for him to be a major part of their new frontcourt.
In Other News...
Matas Buzelis Sees A Different Bulls Team Taking Shape
Matas Buzelis opened training camp sounding like a young player who has already felt the difference between a team searching for answers and one trying to build something sturdier. After a season in which Chicago was sorting through change, the second-year forward said the tone around the organization has shifted, with more intensity and a clearer sense of purpose as the Bulls move through an overhaul and into a new phase of the rebuild.
Buzelis also spoke with the patience of someone focused on the long game, stressing that his own approach is to keep improving every day and help wherever he can. For a roster trying to establish itself, that matters as much as any single skill point. The real test now is whether the early signs of order and accountability can hold once the games start to pile up. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Jordan Weighed In On A Bulls Reality Fans Know Too Well
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Jordan also touched on how different the current landscape would feel for players now, with social media adding a layer of scrutiny his era never had to deal with. For a franchise still measured against his shadow, the comments hit on a reality Chicago knows well, even if the details of how he would navigate todays betting-heavy environment remain his to spell out another time. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Preseason Opener Already Puts Their Rebuild Under Pressure
The Bulls are barely into preseason, and the mood around the opener against the Suns already feels more about survival than evaluation. Before the first practice even got going, Zach Collins was hurt, while Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis are expected to get the first look in the starting group as Chicago begins sorting through a roster that still has more questions than answers.
Chicago also moved quickly to address its depth, bringing in Jordan Hawkins to fill the last roster spot. The early injuries only sharpen the pressure on a team trying to make its rebuild look like progress, and the next few days will say plenty about how much the Bulls can learn before the games start counting for real. [Read more 🡒]