The Warriors still don’t have a date for Kristaps Porzingis to come back, and Steve Kerr said Thursday that there’s “no timetable” for the big man as he stays away from the team because of an unspecified health issue, according to Nick Friedell of The Athletic.
“He’s not here today,” Kerr said. “We’ve obviously been busy in Hawaii and Portland. So, I’ll reach out to KP today and check in with him, but nothing new to report.”
Porzingis has dealt with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, or POTS, over the past two seasons, though the Warriors have not said whether his current absence is related. Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints also reported that Golden State is “bracing” for Porzingis to miss the beginning of the regular season.
In Indiana, Jay Huff may help ease Tyrese Haliburton into the post-Myles Turner reality by bringing some familiar tools to the frontcourt. Turner was with the Bucks last season, while Haliburton was sidelined, after the two had shared the floor in the Finals the year before.
Maxwell Ogden of 8 Points, 9 Seconds noted that Huff offers many of the same baseline traits Turner did, especially as a shot-blocker, 3-point shooter and a big who can function in either pick-and-pop or pick-and-roll actions.
Ivica Zubac is expected to start at center, but Huff could still carve out a real role behind him. He averaged 1.9 blocks last season and has shown he can space the floor, giving Haliburton another big who doesn’t have to live around the rim.
Out in Phoenix, Ryan Dunn has grabbed the first crack at wing minutes in the Suns’ early preseason competition. Through the team’s first two preseason games, Dunn has been the first wing off the bench ahead of Rasheer Fleming, according to John Voita of Bright Side of the Sun.
Defense remains Dunn’s calling card, and the Suns have paired him with other active defenders while surrounding him with more shooting. The offensive side is still catching up, though. Dunn missed all three of his 3-point attempts over those first two preseason games.
Even so, Phoenix seems ready to give the third-year forward the opening chance to win those rotation minutes, with Fleming right behind him if he doesn’t seize them.
In Other News...
Duop Reath Is Giving The Suns A Tough Roster Decision
The Suns have spent preseason showing off more than just their stars, and one of the quieter developments has been the play of Duop Reath. Signed to a training camp deal, the third-string center has fit into a bench group that already looks deeper than expected, giving Phoenix something it can never quite have enough of: another capable big man who can hold his own while the regulars rest.
Reaths performance has also put the front office in an awkwardly familiar spot, because a strong camp can turn a low-cost addition into a roster debate. He could be a candidate for the final roster or a two-way contract, and the Suns will have to decide whether his value in Phoenix outweighs what he might have meant elsewhere, especially with other teams around the league dealing with their own frontcourt losses. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Dunn Has A Real Suns Opening But One Problem Remains
Ryan Dunn has gotten an early look in the Suns preseason rotation, and that alone says plenty about where the team sees his opportunity right now. In the first two preseason games, he has been the preferred option over Rasheer Fleming in the early substitution pattern, checking in during the first quarter while head coach Jordan Ott takes a closer look at how Dunn might grow into a bench role built around defense and complementary shooting.
The appeal is clear: Dunns defensive ability has already stood out, and the Suns are evaluating whether he can become the kind of three-and-D piece that fits alongside the teams shooters. The lingering issue is just as clear, though, because his three-point shot has not yet taken the kind of preseason step the Suns need to see, which leaves Fleming as a possible alternative if Dunn does not separate himself. [Read more 🡒]
Suns Face One Huge Early Question Around Jalen Green And Booker
Devin Booker is already the obvious center of gravity for Phoenix, but the conversation around him this summer has shifted from simple star status to usage. Bill Simmons and Rob Mahoney of The Ringer pointed to Booker as the Suns player to watch entering the season, noting his stated desire to shoot more and just enjoy the game. For a team trying to find its footing around him, that is not a small detail.
Jalen Green adds another layer to the equation. As the Suns second-highest-paid player, he is expected to have a major say in how cleanly Booker can get to his spots and how much pressure the offense can put on defenses. The intrigue for Phoenix is not just whether Booker can handle a bigger scoring load, but how the rest of the roster, Green included, helps make that possible. [Read more 🡒]