Once Kawhi Leonard trade from Toronto is complete, Jake Fisher is waiting Clippers hold on Brandon Ingram for a while, rather than immediately trying to flip him to other players or draft picks, he said on Bleacher Report Live (video link; hat tip to BasketNews). Fisher confirms the Clippers have been notified Predators and all the players involved that they are not yet ready to complete the deal because they are yet finding out the composition of their office according to the results of last week sanctions.
“I don’t think it’s anything that’s being discussed at this point (regarding Ingram).” – said Fisher. “Could they potentially do it sometime this season or down the road? Absolutely. But I haven’t been given any indication that the Clippers are actively looking to move Brandon Ingram this offseason.”
Fisher adds that Ingram has been in Los Angeles working out at the Clippers’ facility, and there is an expectation that the trade will eventually be completed in its current form. He argues that Ingram does have “some re-trade value” after an All-Star season with Toronto in which he averaged 21.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 3.7 assists in 77 games.
There are more from the Pacific Division:
- ESPN’s Anthony Slater offered an encouraging view Jimmy Butlerrecovery from a torn ACL as part of a league-wide update on wounded stars. League sources tell Slater that Butler has shown “significant progress” but still needs a lot of rehab work. He is expected to be limited to strength training and individual training Warriors open training camp later this month. Slater calls a return in January or February an “optimistic goal,” adding that Butler needs to hit a lot of checkpoints to make that realistic.
- Slater learned about this from sources in the league The necklaces center Damantas Sabonis is expected to be ready for the start of camp after season-ending surgery in February to fix a partially torn left meniscus. He noted that Sabonis did not play for Lithuania last month in World Cup qualifiers, so he could complete his rehabilitation. Slater confirms that Sacramento explored the possibility of a trade involving Sabonis this summer, and he was open to moving, but he is expected to be the team’s starting center when the season begins.
- Ben Simmons‘ not guaranteed veteran minimum contract with The necklaces includes a partial guarantee of $1 million if he is still on the roster for the premiership, according to HoopsHype’s Michael Scott (Link to Twitter). Appearing on Sactown Sports 1140 (Link to YouTube), Simmons’ godfather and former coach, David Patrick, said he expects the latest comeback attempt to be successful. “A year and a half of absence gives you, so to speak, a new life” – said Patrick. “It also takes less mileage off your body, so he’s 30, but he’s basically a year and a half behind in terms of hitting the NBA, and I think his hunger for the game is back.”
