NBA Injury Updates and Roster Moves: Spurs Monitor Castle, Wizards Add Richmond, Kings in Freefall
Spurs: Castle Takes a Hard Fall, Status Uncertain for Warriors Game
Stephon Castle’s night ended earlier than expected on Tuesday, but the Spurs are breathing a collective sigh of relief - at least for now. The rookie guard exited in the second quarter of San Antonio’s win over the Lakers after taking a tough spill and was ruled out for the second half with what the team is calling a pelvic contusion.
Castle was able to walk off under his own power, and postgame, he downplayed the severity of the injury. He’s hopeful to suit up for Wednesday’s game against the Warriors, though the team is expected to take a cautious approach.
“I’m expecting he’ll be pretty sore - more than pretty sore,” Spurs interim head coach Mitch Johnson said. “It was good that he walked off and didn’t feel like it was anything else.”
Castle is currently listed as a game-time decision. With the All-Star break looming after Wednesday’s matchup, San Antonio may opt to give the rookie a full week to recover.
That would be a smart move for a player who’s been showing real flashes of two-way potential in his first season. No reason to rush him back with the long view in mind.
Wizards: Kadary Richmond Signs 10-Day Deal, Tre Johnson Returns
The Wizards are giving a fresh face a shot. Washington has signed guard Kadary Richmond to a 10-day contract, filling an open roster spot with a player who’s been steadily climbing the ranks in their G League system.
Richmond, a 6-foot-6 guard out of St. John’s, has been with the Capital City Go-Go this season and has shown promising development, especially since late December.
In 23 games, he’s averaged 8.3 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.9 assists - and he’s coming off a strong performance with 19 points and six assists on Saturday. That kind of production earned him a look at the next level.
He joins Keshon Gilbert as the second Wizard on a 10-day contract. Richmond’s deal runs through February 20 and is worth $73,153 - a shot at the big leagues and a chance to prove he belongs.
Meanwhile, there’s more good news for Washington: rookie Tre Johnson is off the injury report and expected to return Wednesday in Cleveland after missing six games with a left ankle sprain. Johnson had started 17 straight games before the injury and was beginning to find his rhythm.
The Wizards are still a work in progress, but there’s a sense of momentum building. With young talent getting healthy and new faces getting opportunities, Washington is quietly laying the groundwork for what could be a much more competitive future in the East.
Kings: Sacramento’s Slide Continues, Injury Report Grows
Things have gone from bad to worse in Sacramento. The Kings are now mired in a 13-game losing streak, and Wednesday’s game against Utah won’t offer much relief - not with the roster as depleted as it is.
Already without key contributors Domantas Sabonis, Keegan Murray, Malik Monk, and De’Andre Hunter, the Kings have now ruled out both Russell Westbrook and Zach LaVine as well. That’s six rotation players sidelined, and it leaves Sacramento with a skeleton crew heading into their final game before the break.
There’s no sugarcoating it - the Kings are in a full-blown tailspin. The injuries have piled up, the losses have followed, and the team is clearly struggling to find its footing. Whether it’s a short-term slump or something more systemic remains to be seen, but right now, Sacramento is simply trying to survive until reinforcements arrive.
With the All-Star break on the horizon, the hope is that the time off will allow some key players to heal and reset what’s been a brutal stretch. But make no mistake - the Kings have a lot of ground to make up if they want to get back into the Western Conference mix.