He remained symptom-free the whole way following the NBA's Return-to Participation Exertion Protocol and team physicians cleared him to play tonight. The Pacers were a different team with Hill out in Game 5, shooting 36.2 percent from the field while not taking care of the ball with 19 turnovers. D.J. Augustin will move back to the to the bench.
George Hill will start in Saturday's Game 6
George Hill | IND
(May 18, 2013 6:31 PM EDT)
George Hill (concussion) has been cleared to play in Game 6 on Saturday and will start with no limitations.
Source:
Scott Agness on Twitter
NBA GM: Bynum won't get more than one year
Andrew Bynum | PHI
(May 18, 2013 2:18 PM EDT)
An NBA GM said that Andrew Bynum won't get more than a one-year deal.
This isn't exactly earth-shattering news on Bynum and conventional wisdom would suggest that most teams would be extremely apprehensive to sign him to a multi-year contract. He missed every game this year and over the previous five seasons, Bynum missed 26.0 games per season. A 25-year-old center already having serious durability issues is going to make it tough on his agent to get leverage in contract negotiations.
Source:
Shaun Powell on Twitter
Aaron Gray reportedly exercises player option
Aaron Gray | TOR
(May 18, 2013 1:21 PM EDT)
Aaron Gray exercised the $2.6 million player option in his contract, according to beat writer Josh Lewenberg.
Much like his teammate Linas Kleiza, Gray has no reason to decline the option. The five-year veteran had fits of fantasy usefulness in very deep leagues but is mostly an end-of-the-bench player. He averaged 2.8 points and 3.2 rebounds in 12.2 minutes per game.
Source:
Josh Lewenberg on Twitter
Linas Kleiza reportedly exercises option
Linas Kleiza | TOR
(May 18, 2013 1:14 PM EDT)
Linas Kleiza reportedly exercised the $4.6 million player option in his contract, according to beat writer Josh Lewenberg.
This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone because there's no way Kleiza's getting anything close to that much on the open market. Kleiza barely played this season due to injuries and then was shut down by the Raptors for the final month of the season despite being healthy. He's candidate for Toronto's amnesty clause.
Source:
Josh Lewenberg on Twitter
Tyson Chandler's wrist apparently an issue
Tyson Chandler | NY
(May 18, 2013 1:08 PM EDT)
Tyson Chandler had his wrist taped at practice Saturday but said it's "fine."
"Fine" is the same way Chandler described his back and neck, which have hindered him for much of this postseason. We have no doubt that Chandler will be in the lineup for Game 6, but we also don't think he's anywhere close to as healthy as Chandler and the Knicks say he is. The Knicks must win Game 6 to avoid elimination.
Source:
Ian Begley on Twitter
Russell Westbrook should make a full recovery
Russell Westbrook | OKC
(May 18, 2013 1:04 PM EDT)
Thunder GM Sam Presti said Russell Westbrook (knee surgery) is expected to make a full recovery and should be the same player he was before the injury.
Westbrook should get a firmer rehab timetable once he sheds his crutches within the next month. At that point, we'll have a better idea of when he can begin working out and eventually resume basketball activities. Westbrook should be completely healed and ready to go by the start of training camp.
Source:
Royce Young on Twitter
Kevin Garnett won't need foot/ankle surgery
Kevin Garnett | BOS
(May 18, 2013 12:48 PM EDT)
Kevin Garnett is not expected to need surgery on his foot/ankle.
The Celtics' medical staff thinks Garnett's injury issues will subside with rest, which is the first of three big offseason question marks for KG. The second and third ones, of course, are whether Garnett, who turns 37 on Sunday, will return to play next season and if that will be for the Celtics. It's unlikely Garnett will remain with Boston if Paul Pierce heads elsewhere and Pierce's future with the Celtics appears very tenuous at this point.
Source:
Steve Bulpett on Twitter
Presti says amnesty not something Thunder use
Kendrick Perkins | OKC
(May 18, 2013 12:30 PM EDT)
Thunder GM Sam Presti said the amnesty exemption is not something Oklahoma City has considered using.
Presti was asked the question in relation to Kendrick Perkins, who is due $18.63 million over the next two seasons. Presti said the Thunder believe Perkins has "a lot of value to our team," which certainly didn't seem to be the case in OKC's second-round loss to Memphis. We'll just have to wait and see if Presti is true to his word.
Source:
Darnell Mayberry on Twitter
George Hill is a game-time decision Saturday
George Hill | IND
(May 18, 2013 12:02 PM EDT)
George Hill (concussion) will be a game-time decision Saturday night against the Knicks.
Hill was going through the on-court exertion part of the league's concussion protocol Saturday afternoon. He'll have to pass all levels of the test before being cleared to return to game action. The Pacers clearly missed in Thursday's Game 5 loss to the Knicks and a return could help Indiana close out the series at home. If Hill isn't cleared, D.J. Augustin will start and be in line for major minutes.
Source:
Nate Taylor on Twitter
Report: Bucks interviewed Clifford on Monday
Ersan Ilyasova | MLW
(May 18, 2013 11:59 AM EDT)
The Bucks interviewed Lakers assistant Steve Clifford for the head-coaching vacancy Monday, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports.
Clifford was the primary defensive assistant on the Lakers' staff and remained on the bench even after L.A. fired Mike Brown and hired Mike D'Antoni. Clifford was also expected to interview with the Bobcats. J.C. Bickerstaff, Nate McMillan and Kelvin Sampson have also been connected with the Bucks opening.
Source:
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

